Outdoor Dining Returns To Downtown Concord In April

CONCORD, NH — The city of Concord will be allowing restaurants downtown to expand outdoor dining beginning in April.

Restaurants downtown expanded dining to outdoor areas on city streets and sidewalks last year, allowing customers who did not want to dine-in at restaurants, for fear of catching coronavirus, the opportunity to still eat out, in the fresh air.

"The temporary program provides for the issuance of special permits for expanded outdoor dining to allow restaurants in the downtown to use areas of the public sidewalk, squares, and parking spaces in front of their businesses to accommodate customers’ tables and chairs," Stefanie Breton, the public information officer for the city, stated in a press release.

The program was considered a success by all involved last year.

For 2021, the season will run from April 1 to Nov. 15.

Breton said 27 establishments were licensed for expanded outdoor dining in 2020 while other eateries downtown also used their regular sidewalk setups.

In 2020, establishments needed to provide $1 million in liability insurance and indemnification to the city. A sketch or photo of what the seating would look like was also required along with the number of parking spaces needed and approval from abutters.

Two eateries that took advantage of the outdoor seating in 2020 that will again this year are The Barley House on North Main Street and The Draft on South Main Street.

"Yes, we did offer outdoor dining on the sidewalk and street and, yes, it helped a ton," Andy Sanborn, one of the owners of The Draft, said.

Brian Shea, the owner of The Barley House, said he hoped the city would extend it into 2022, too.

"We need many years to recapture lost sales and income," he said. "(My) only concern is that it will still be a bit chilly in April, and the weather can be unpredictable, but we will take it."

Restaurants interested in participating should apply for an expanded outdoor dining permit through the Code Administration Office website.

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