Pop-up outdoor dining is coming to Nottingham’s Old Market Square from Friday. The area, organised by Nottingham City Council and supported by Nottingham BID, has been designed to support local food and drink outlets as part of the city’s re-opening strategy from the Covid lockdown restrictions.
People will be able to buy items in nearby cafes, coffee shops and restaurants, which they can then consume in the Square. Alcoholic drinks are not permitted due to licensing restrictions. Seating will be available from 11am-8pm daily. There will be a regular cleaning regime in place, along with a number of sanitiser stations in place.
The Melt Bar & Grill will also be open selling summertime barbecue-style food, along with a small selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Consumption of any alcoholic drinks will be within a designated licensed area.
The alfresco dining area will be complemented by a small selection of rides and attractions aimed primarily at younger children. The rides and Melt Bar will be operated and maintained by Mellors Group Events. Across the Square, all attractions will all comply with social distancing and other guidelines in place for the operation of rides. The area will have a comprehensive cleansing regime in place.
The news comes a month after the council was forced to announce the cancellation of both the annual Beach event in Old Market Square and the popular Riverside Festival, held on the Embankment.
Funding for the alfresco dining area has been sourced through a Government scheme and from the European Regional Development Fund. There has been no cost to the council.
Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture at Nottingham City Council, said: “We understand how disappointing it has been for people to see major events have to be cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak. Nothing is more important than the safety of the public. However, as the school holidays begin, we were still very keen to provide a summer attraction for people in the city centre. We’ve again worked closely with Nottingham BID to bring this about. We look forward to welcoming people back this summer and hope that the warm weather shines on us!”
Paige Harris, Head of Marketing at Mellors Group, said: “We are extremely excited to be providing fairground attractions in Nottingham this summer. We assure visitors that we have implemented stringent health-and-safety procedures to ensure a safe but exceptionally fun environment for everyone.”
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