As a business, space is precious. It’s this space you’ll use to entice customers in, making sure they have a comfortable space to sit – and it helps you too, because the more space you have, the more customers you can seat at any one time. However, with space at a premium, it’s important you make the most of it, as an extension is a costly step to take and this isn’t a possibility for many business owners. Retractable roofs can be installed to give you more usable space outside, blending the indoors with the outdoors – and making the space that you have into a more pleasant environment as well.

Retractable roofs are systems that can be used to cover large areas of patio or terraced areas, providing shelter and coverage whilst people are sitting out of doors. It’s like a large awning or veranda covering, but because it’s retractable, it gives you more choice and flexibility in terms of when you decide to use it. You can have the area covered over to provide protection from the sun or, if it begins to rain (as it might well do with the ever-changing British weather!), your customers will also have protection from wet weather. It can also be beneficial if it’s windy outside, as the retractable roof will provide shelter and protection to make it more comfortable to sit outside. This is particularly useful if people are eating and drinking, and need to be protected from the weather.

What types of businesses install retractable roof systems?

Many types of business can benefit from retractable roof systems. These are some of them:

• Bars. It’s important that people who run a bar can optimise their outdoor space, so that customers can make the most of sitting outdoors. This can mean that more customers can come and enjoy a drink, meaning more opportunities for you to make money from your bar business.
• Restaurants. People love eating out of doors, especially on a warm sunny day. They’ll enjoy the experience even more with a retractable roofing system – they’ll be out of doors, but with protection from the sun, and from any other weather conditions as well.
• Cafes. Café owners often install awnings and retractable roofs, giving them more flexibility over the way they use any outdoor space they might have. If you are lucky enough to have a courtyard or a garden, it’s great to be able to share this with your customers and make sure they have a great time – meaning they’ll be more likely to come back.
• Hotel owners. If you run a busy hotel, guests will want to spend time out of doors when it’s good weather. With a retractable roof system, you can make sure they can be comfortable out of doors throughout more of the year, into the autumn, or in spring before the really hot summer weather comes along. If you make your outdoor space more desirable, you can also attract in customers who aren’t hotel guests.