Outdoor canopies – why bother?

Posted on 17th July 2018 | Posted in About Canopies UK

When you’re on holiday abroad, you often see lots of outdoor canopies, providing much-needed shelter and shade from the sun, but is there much use for them here in the UK?

Absolutely.

At the time of writing this post, the UK was experiencing the longest heatwave it’s had for a long time, with June reportedly being the driest ever on record. As great as the sweltering temperatures may be, we all know that there are more windy, rainy, cloudy and cold months in Great Britain than sunny ones (sorry, but it’s true).

So, there’s little point in having outdoor canopies in this climate, we hear you say. If only that were true. The benefits of installing outdoor canopies both in the UK and abroad are widespread, here are five of them:

1. Bring the outdoors, indoors

If you work in the hospitality sector, then it’s great for business when the sun shines. People are more inclined to pop out for a bite to eat or a drink outside. But when you’re in autumn/winter, your outdoor space becomes a no-go zone.

Having an outdoor canopy means that you can instantly transform your outdoor space into indoor space that can be used in all seasons, not just for several weeks of the year. And the principle doesn’t just apply to restaurants, bars, hotels or B&Bs either, if you’re a business that wants to put your outdoor space to use all-year round, then an outdoor canopy’s just what you need.

2. Enhance children’s learning

We all know that there are many benefits to being out in the great outdoors. It’s great for your health and wellbeing, as it can boost your mood and help reduce stress levels.

It can also help aid children’s learning too. We’re not saying that you need to take your pupils to the woods for their lessons, but creating an outdoor learning environment that’s bright, airy, spacious and full of natural sunlight, is far more engaging than being stuck inside in a standard classroom.

We’ve got lots of customers that are schools, colleges and nurseries that have done just that and are reaping the benefits of it too. Here’s one of them, Bradley Primary School in Lancashire.

3. Serve more people

As well as enabling pub, bar, restaurant and hotel owners to open their space to customers in all seasons, outdoor canopies can provide them with an incredibly valuable on-going source of additional income.

By installing an outdoor canopy, they can extend their space quickly and easily and, if it’s dining space, then this means they can effectively seat more people. Take our hugely-popular Cantabria canopy, for instance.

Available in any length and ranging in projections of up to 10 metres for single units and 20 metres for twin units, a new Cantabria canopy can create up to 184 additional weekly covers, generating up to £7,000 a week. Intrigued? Take a look at one of our Cantabria installations in action.

4. Protect yourself – in every kind of weather

So, you know how we mentioned at the start of this post how the UK weather is a real mixed bag? Well, that’s what’s so great about outdoor canopies. Yes, many people may associate them with sunshine, but they can provide much-needed protection in all different types of weather.

When closed, our Cantabria offers 100 per cent protection in wind speeds of up to 60km/h. While in the finer months, the glass sides can be retracted, and come the cooler, wetter or more changeable weather, can be partially or fully closed. What’s more, integrated guttering, waterproof roof, lighting and heating, make it even more effective against the elements.

And when it’s sunny, all of our Connekt canopies offer protection from the sun’s harmful rays, thanks to the fact they’re coated with Melinex gel, which allows natural light through and filters UV light.

5. Add style and value to your home

Outdoor canopies aren’t just for businesses you know. If you’re a homeowner who’s looking to make more of your outdoor space in the summer or protect your patio and garden when the weather turns grim, outdoor canopies can do both of these things and more.

Our bespoke garden canopy and awning systems are designed to maximise your property’s outdoor space, enabling you to entertain guests and relax outside come rain or shine. For more details on the benefits of owning a patio canopy, check out our blog.

There are all sorts of reasons to invest in an outdoor canopy, not just the five we’ve listed above. For more reasons or to discuss your requirements with us, contact us today on 01254 777 002 or email karen@canopiesuk.co.uk.  For advice on getting the best results from your canopy investment, check out our special report.

*Based on £40 per cover = £7,360.

** Based on Friday and Saturday, 2 sittings per day.