Belfast’s pavement cafes are to open earlier, with new licensing hours to operate from 7am to 11pm.
At this week’s meeting of Belfast City Council’s Licensing Committee, elected representatives were asked by officers to approve standard hours for pavement cafe licences.
A pavement cafe licence authorises a person who operates a business supplying food or drink to place furniture on a public area for use by customers.
This includes cafés, restaurants, pubs, retail outlets providing refreshments, takeaways and supermarkets with a deli counter.
A council officer told the committee that 13 applications, all from coffee shops, had recently been received, asking for a 7am or 7.30am start.
Sinn Fein Councillor Geraldine McAteer proposed the 7am to 11pm opening time, which was agreed by the committee. Sinn Fein Councillor JJ Magee said: “I think this is good for Belfast, and it will be good for tourism.”
DUP Councillor Tracy Kelly said: “It is only good that we open earlier. A lot of people are out and about at this time, working, running about, or doing whatever they do.”
The licenses are part of the council's reaction to the Covid-19 crisis, and will last only for a year. A council officer said if any anti-social behaviour or noise complaints came from residents close to the pavement cafes, the council would retain the right to refuse renewal.
