LPG Catering Case Study - The Fox Inn

Cafe bars with on-street tables and chairs are a common sight to Britons travelling abroad, and are increasing in popularity in British towns and cities. As result, pubs and restaurants are becoming more aware of the potential of outdoor hospitality as a way of increasing trade and discovering that the solution to the unpredictable British climate is patio heaters - which can provide instant warmth to external areas.

Patio heaters can be used regularly to provide warmth for exterior seating areas, or at special events, in both cases encouraging customers to linger late into the evening and creating increased sites opportunities. Cafes, restaurants, theme parks, event organisers and pubs can take advantage of available space outdoors and be confident that they can cope with the additional custom they attract.

One such pub is the Fox Inn, on the banks of the river Windrush, nestling between Little and Great Barrington - a setting which is described as one of the prettiest in the Cotswolds. The Fox Inn is a traditional pub able to seat only 28 people inside, but the patio area provides seating for up to 100 with an additional 150 seats around the garden.

With its small bar and traditional skittle alley, but limited indoor seating space, the Fox Inn relies on its exterior seating to increase trade. Paul Porter, the tenant, wanted to extend the inn's warm, cosy atmosphere and take full advantage of the external facilities available, and so he considered an investment in Calor powered patio heaters.

Paul evaluated the benefits of both mobile and fixed patio heaters. As he was interested in using the heaters to create a permanent outdoor feature which would provide heat over a very large area, he opted for six permanently-fixed patio heaters supplied by Sierra to adorn his sizeable patio. Taking into account his specific requirements, he was advised to power the heaters by a 2000 litre Calor bulk tank. Thus, Paul enjoys the convenience of having his gas supply automatically topped up by a computerised delivery service.

Many pubs opt for mobile patio heaters which also offer a number of benefits. Powered by 13kg cylinder concealed in the base, they can be easily moved to wherever the heat is required and fully dismantled, or reduced in height, for portability and ease of storage. Pubs choosing mobile patio heaters are well serviced by Calor's extensive network of 10,000 dealers and stockists which make regular deliveries of Calor cylinders to their customers.

Paul chose the Sierra heaters to compliment the traditional styling of the Fox Inn and help to extend the friendly atmosphere of the pub onto the patio and garden areas. A wide choice of patio heaters are available, designed in different colours and sizes to fit into any surroundings, whether modern or classic. Controls are easily accessible and patio heaters offer the benefits of instant electronic ignition and rapid warm up to the required temperature, with built in safety features and a range of accessories. Each heater emits warmth over an area of up to 20 sq.m and, as Paul has discovered, both fixed and mobile models can be grouped to provide warmth over a much larger outdoor area.

Customers at the Fox Inn also enjoy the benefits of Calor powered barbecues, a cost effective supplement to the pub's catering facilities on music nights and during events held at the pub. Paul has learned to his benefit that patio heaters and barbecues can significantly extend the facilities available in most establishments. In fact, Paul is a long-term domestic customer of Calor, using the fuel for cooking and tumble drying, and so he recognised the advantages of LPG as an independent, versatile source of power. There are many licensed premises beyond the mains which could benefit immensely, as the Fox Inn has, from turning to Calor as a source of power - both inside and out.

Paul commented: "I would certainly recommend the patio heaters to other pubs. They provide an welcome extension on summer days and come into their own in the spring and autumn. I have a great biking and hiking trade in the spring and later on in the year when it is not normally warm enough to sit outside, so my customers appreciate the warmth provided by the heaters, and no-one needs to be turned away as a result of overcrowding indoors."

Referring to the cost of the heaters, Paul added: "I have seen a definite upturn in trade with, on average, about an extra 25% taken on Saturdays. I estimate that I recouped the cost of one heater in one particularly busy weekend, so the increase in trade certainly allows landlords to get their money back quickly. As well as being cost-effective, the heaters are extremely versatile. Many customers come to the Fox Inn because they appreciate the warmth provided by the heaters - in fact, they now often ask for the heaters to be turned on so that they can stay outside for longer."