Specification checklist
- 1Check any licensing condition on outdoor seating boundary height/openness
- 2Confirm rear yard security matches the value of stock or plant kept there
- 3Specify a delivery gate wide enough for supplier vehicles
- 4Agree a working window around trading hours before booking
- 5Consider decking maintenance schedule for heavy footfall areas
A shop, pub or café's fencing and gate needs split cleanly into two: customer-facing boundaries (beer gardens, outdoor seating, forecourt screening) where appearance and trading hours drive the brief, and rear or side boundaries (stock yards, bin stores, delivery access) where security and access control matter most.
We quote both halves of that brief together where a site needs it, and schedule work to avoid trading hours wherever the site is open to the public.
Front-of-house: seating, decking and screening
Outdoor seating areas and beer gardens often combine decking with a boundary fence or planter-screen that meets licensing or planning conditions on visibility and noise containment, particularly where alcohol is served outdoors. We build to whatever condition your licence specifies rather than a generic spec.
Composite decking is a common choice here because it copes with heavy footfall and spilled drinks without the maintenance burden of timber, and a mixed material approach — decking plus a lighter screening fence or trellis — often reads better than a single solid boundary for a customer-facing space.
- Boundary height and openness matched to any licensing condition on the site
- Composite or hardwood decking for heavy-footfall outdoor seating
- Planter or trellis screening as a softer alternative to a solid fence
- Gate access positioned for staff service routes, not just customer flow
Back-of-house: security and stock protection
Rear yards, bin stores and stock delivery areas need a different spec entirely — full-height, solid security fencing or steel gates, a lockable delivery gate wide enough for supplier vehicles, and no low-level gaps that make theft or fly-tipping easy.
We see a lot of sites where the customer-facing side has had real investment but the rear yard is still a low chain-link boundary — that mismatch is usually where opportunist theft and unauthorised access happens.
Working around trading hours
For sites open to the public, we schedule noisy or disruptive work for closed hours or the quietest part of the trading day, and keep materials and tools clear of customer routes at all times. Early-morning or late-evening slots are common for retail and hospitality work for exactly this reason.
Need front-of-house appeal and back-of-house security in one project?
We'll quote both halves of the brief — customer-facing boundaries and secure rear access — and work around your trading hours to deliver it.
Frequently asked
Do outdoor seating areas need a specific boundary spec for licensing?
Often yes — many premises licences specify height, openness or noise containment conditions for outdoor drinking areas. We'll build to whatever your licence document specifies.
Can fencing and decking work be done without closing for trading?
Usually yes — we schedule disruptive work for closed hours or quiet trading periods and keep materials clear of customer routes throughout.
What's the most common security gap you see at retail or hospitality sites?
A well-presented customer frontage paired with a low, unsecured rear yard boundary — that mismatch is a common opportunist entry point for theft.
Is composite decking suitable for a busy beer garden?
Yes, it copes well with heavy footfall and spillage and needs far less upkeep than timber decking under that kind of use.