Restaurant Dine-Ins to Takeaways

As quickly as one change comes in (suspension of business rates for small businesses), another swiftly follows (blanket suspension on rates for all hospitality businesses).

The latest in the fast-moving and fluid chain of events is a temporary relaxation in the planning laws to enable restaurants, who have taken a heavy hit in footfall, to operate as takeaway units. This, it is hoped, will alleviate the strain on these businesses while also catering for the needs of those now self-isolating or working from home.

The problem still remains that these units are larger in size than a purpose-built takeaway unit and so attract greater rents and greater staff costs. These are fixed overheads and it has been left to individual operators to make difficult decisions and try to negotiate commercial terms with third parties (suppliers, landlords etc.) where they can.

However, this does present an opportunity for those who can adapt to a takeaway model. Time will tell if this is the start of a more practical approach to the planning Use Classes Order to bring it in line with the reality of how these restaurants operate on the ground. If working from home becomes a new normal in the future, perhaps a sea-tide of change to allow more takeaway uses will need to remain in place.

In the meantime, we can do our part to help the hospitality industry in some way to support those who are having to stay open. If, like most, your local supermarket has been pillaged, maybe an alternative could be to pick up food or have it delivered from your local cafe or restaurant.