Get The Restaurants Working Again, MediaCityUK

Peel Media Limited

In line with government advice during lockdown and utilising the open-air space in MediaCityUK that was under the control of Peel Media, we prepared a proposal to support restaurant operators in the reopening of their businesses. The idea was to stimulate trade whilst responsible social distance measures were in place and to capitalise on the opportunity to deliver an alfresco dining proposition in a managed public realm space where large gatherings weren’t possible; something traditional urban centres would be unlikely to be able to provide.

The opportunity existed to link up with a range of MCUK operators and potentially extend the proposal to the Lowry Outlet, the Lowry Theatre and Digital World Centre.

A socially distanced dining experience where guests sit in their own greenhouse pavilion in groups of 2, 4 or perhaps 6 persons. Based on the French term for private dining, chambre sèparèe and the English term for seried ranks Serre: Serre Sèparèes…..dining pods or pavilions that are both intimate and separate with high visibility.

Arranged in a linear form or as a “festival village” with maître d’ stations to manage orders and delivery.

Along with dining pods, a socially distanced astroturfed picnic area is located in the main piazza; combined with dining pods to create a Summer Nights Festival of outdoor film screenings. Bring your own food or book a dining pod.

Using a large number of standard-size greenhouses is a socially equitable and democratic approach that creates a unique dining experience with a range of food and beverage choices. This also enables a high degree of flexibility in procurement

As a counterpoint to the legibility and architectural order of the greenhouses, the piazza village with be greened and planted in a more organic arrangement using herbs and vegetables along with summer flowering plants. Brightly coloured loose furniture adds to the identity and visual excitement.

Greenhouses would be glazed with SAN and not glass. Secure ground fixing would be required and the use of plinths should be considered where greenhouses are erected on grassed areas.