Cafes and bars to pay fees for outdoor seating

Licenses were introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic

Cafes, bars and restaurants in Chichester will soon have to pay to place chairs and tables outside their premises.

Paid pavement licenses will be introduced across the district from 30 September 2025, though small businesses will receive a 20% discount.

When Chichester District Council proposed the fee back in June, it was criticised by Liberal Democrat councillor James Vivian as "yet another cost" for local businesses at a time when the high street needed to be more competitive.

The local authority has defended the move saying it needs to cover the costs of administrating licenses for venues who want outside seating.

Businesses with a rateable value of £33,001 or higher will pay £285 for a new one-year licence or £362 for a new two-year licence.

For smaller businesses, the charges will be £228 and £289.50 respectively.

There are different fees for renewing existing licenses.

Chichester council first introduced outdoor licensees during the Covid-19 pandemic as a temporary arrangement to help keep businesses afloat amid social distancing rules.

It chose to make them free at the time.