Melton pubs and cafes to reopen with marquee boost

The council has relaxed its regulations on hospitality businesses using the temporary structures to ensure they are able to serve more customers while maintaining the social distancing restrictions.

This means marquees can be erected until September with no need to seek planning approval after 28 days as previous rules demanded.

It is understood the borough council is also working on a plan to allow tables and chairs to be set up on the town’s Market Place with the option for customers to order drinks and food from multiple businesses in the town centre.

Councillor Leigh Higgins, the council’s deputy leader, told the Melton Times: “I’m pleased the government has allowed the hospitality sector to reopen.

“We need to get some money into these businesses because it could otherwise leave a permanent scar on our high street.

“By relaxing these rules on marquees we can help businesses serve more customers and we will keep this under constant review and possibly extend it by another three months after September if we think it’s needed.”

A number of pubs have already expressed an interest in erecting marquees, including the Harboro Hotel, The Anchor at Nether Broughton, The Saddle at Twyford, the Stag and Hounds at Burrough and The Bell at Frisby.

The borough council is also working with Leicestershire County Council, the highways authority, to enable cafes and restaurants in the town centre to be able to serve customers immediately outside their premises on highways land, while still maintaining accessibility and the safety of passers-by.

The council is working with Melton BID and landowners, the town estate, on the plan to set up a continental-style food court in Market Place.

A decision on whether this is feasible will be announced early next month.