Commercial Awnings, Pergolas and Parasols for Irish Pubs, Cafés and Shops

For a pub, café, restaurant or shop in Ireland, the outdoor space can be the difference between a quiet afternoon and a full house. Since outdoor dining became a normal part of Irish hospitality, owners have been looking for ways to keep customers comfortable outside for more of the year. Commercial awnings, pergolas and large parasols each do a different job – here’s how to choose.

Commercial awnings: shade, shelter and free advertising

A shopfront awning protects window displays from sun fade, gives passers-by a dry spot to stop and look, and covers outdoor tables right next to the building. The valance and front of the fabric can be printed with your logo, business name and phone number, turning the awning into signage that’s visible all the way down the street.

• Wide-span cassette awnings can cover the full frontage of most shops and pubs.
• Motorised operation with wind sensors protects the awning when staff are busy.
• Fabric colours can match your branding; printed lettering is added to the valance.
• Check with your local authority before installing anything over a public footpath – licences can apply.

Commercial pergolas for year-round outdoor seating

Where you want covered seating that works in proper Irish rain, a commercial pergola is the stronger option. Free-standing or wall-mounted aluminium frames with a retractable fabric roof or rotating louvres can cover large beer gardens and terraces, and can be closed in with glass walls or zip screens, heaters and lighting for evening trade.

Large parasols for flexible spaces

Big commercial parasols are ideal where the layout changes through the year, or where fixing to the building isn’t possible. They can be fixed into the ground or moved on heavy bases, and the canopies can be branded too.

Which one is right for your business?

• Shopfront or narrow terrace along the building – commercial awning.
• Beer garden or terrace used in all weather – commercial pergola, optionally with glass or screens.
• Open courtyard, seasonal or changing layout – large parasols.

You can see real commercial and residential installations in the GardenZone awnings and pergolas gallery, and read more about commercial and patio awnings on their site.

More from the GardenZone blog

• Awning for a pub or restaurant?
• Custom awnings in Ireland – shade, style and branding