Preston's al fresco cafe culture grows

Preston's pavement cafe culture is continuing to expand with yet more street tables and chairs being created in the city centre.
The Olive Tree Brasserie, Miller Arcade, PrestonThe Olive Tree Brasserie, Miller Arcade, Preston
The Olive Tree Brasserie, Miller Arcade, Preston

The Olive Tree Brasserie, in Miller Arcade, which already has a small al fresco area on Church Street, has been granted permission to spread out further onto the footpath.

The restaurant, which occupies two ground floor units of the Grade II Listed shopping arcade, has successfully applied to more than double its provision for outdoor dining.

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The city council has approved the addition of six tables to the four it already has on the pavement at the front of the eaterie.

The proprietors are now in the process of applying for a pavement cafe licence from the local authority to cover the extra seating.

An officer report to the council’s planning committee said the original seating area, either side of the main entrance was approved in 2014 when the premises changed from a retail shop to a restaurant.

The latest application will see a separate seating area measuring 5.5 metres wide by 3 metres deep established further out on the pavement, with pedestrians using the space in between.

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The report says: “The creation of an additional external seating area would increase frontage activity at the site and make a positive contribution to the public realm and vitality of this section of Church Street.

“The proposal is therefore considered acceptable in principle, subject to its impact on highway safety, the listed building, and safety and security.”

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