By Myrah Abrar, Contributor
Fire pits are a great way to add a natural touch to your restaurant’s outdoor setting. Not only do they provide warmth, but they also add a touch of natural décor to your restaurant. Whether it's a family dinner or a romantic date, a firepit will liven up the mood and make your restaurant the perfect spot to be!
With COVID-19 restricting indoor dining the past year, many restaurants turned to takeaway, delivery, and outdoor dining as ways to keep business going. A lot of restaurants, however, weren’t set up to create an amazing outdoor experience. Outdoor dining was adopted more out of necessity than creativity. More than a year later, however, leading restaurant owners to look to innovative ways to entice customers to their establishment and improve their outdoor dining experience.
Firepits can prove to be a great solution for this challenge! They help owners win the restaurant vs. coronavirus battle and create an amazing atmosphere. The warm, cozy, and inviting firepits are the perfect addition to bring guests to your outdoor dining area, especially as the autumn fast approaches.
Which Firepit Should You Get for Your Restaurant?
Depending on your restaurant’s budget and space, you can choose from a variety of options, including affordable steel bowls and washing machine firepits to pricier tabletop and silhouette firepits.
Apart from price, the things you should keep in mind when choosing a fire pit are:
Size – Do you want a big or small firepit? What will fit your restaurant’s outdoor space the best?
Type – Do you want a portable or fixed firepit?
Material – Do you want a concrete, stainless steel, copper, brick, or cast iron firepit? Which will best for your regional environment?
Mechanism – Do you want an electric, gas, or charcoal firepit? What do you want in terms of style as well as on-going cost?
Function – Do you want a firepit that's more decorative or functional?
Ambiance – Which firepit compliments the style and aesthetics of your restaurant?
Quick Thoughts on Firepit Safety
If you choose gas firepits, make sure to have them assessed by a gas safety engineer to prevent any chances of gas leaks. A gas safety check cost varies according to the number of gas firepits and the other gas utensils at your premises. It is quite affordable; however, no amount of money is too high to pay for your, your staff, and your guests’ safety.
Additionally, while setting up firepits, follow the safety precautions -- i.e., use of fire-resistant materials such as bricks, stones, etc. You should also hire a professional to install the big firepits. If installing yourself, read the instruction manual carefully to avoid accidents.
Now, let's come to the main part of the article; below are a couple of firepit ideas that you can use to beautify your restaurant’s outdoor seating area.
1. Install Firepit as a Natural Heat Source
When cooler weather arrives, restaurants can use small concrete firepits as a tabletop accessory, providing a good source of heat. This can make outdoor dining for customers a lot more comfortable, as they can stay warm while waiting for their food to arrive.
For warmer weather, you can use small firepits to provide elegant lighting and a pleasant ambiance in your restaurant. With proper seating arrangement, you can fulfill the wish of those guests wanting to have an outdoor experience during the evening or nighttime.
Firepits come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and you can choose according to the size and space of your restaurant. Here are a few examples:
Wade Logan's Wood Burning Outdoor Firepit. Light up your guests' evenings with the help of Wade Logan's outdoor firepit. It consists of a fire column made of faux stone and a metallic fire bowl. The metallic fire bowl has a robust base made of fiberglass for protection and can be removed from the fire column.
Boo Fire Baskets of Modern Design. If your outdoor restaurant is located on a hill station or even on an open terrace, then a Boo Fire Basket can bring warm relief to customers. Due to the design and shape, these baskets are easily portable, allowing you to set them up in any corner or space desired. The large gaps between its metal bars allow the fire to breathe and glow, spreading its warmth and light to the surroundings.
Tuscola's Steel Firepits. To add a professional touch to your outdoor setting, add Tuscola's bowl-shaped firepits. It helps to set the right environment for your guests to have a get-together. These firepits can also be used to light up the nooks and corners of your outdoor restaurant, giving a proper glow. Safety from flying sparks is assured with its spark screen feature.
These firepits can serve as a great use to catch the attention of customers and provide a sophisticated look. You can set them up in corners of your outdoor restaurant or in the middle of seating arrangements. Make sure while using them, enough space is left for the safe movement of your staff and customers.
2. Play it Safe with Metal Frame Firepit Feature
Placing firepits in the middle or corners of seating arrangements provides a sense of privacy to the guests, making them feel at home and comfy. However, fireplaces can be a source of hazard, especially for family dinners with children.
Therefore, if you are a family restaurant, you can use metal frame firepits to ensure safety while also providing warmth and ambiance to your customers. Firepits like the Lark Manor's Harter Backyard firepit contain a mesh screen that shields from sparks and coal. It also has a safety mesh lid so families can enjoy a day out without having to worry about anyone getting hurt.
3. Provide a Rustic Atmosphere with a Round Wood Burning Firepit
Convert the experience of outdoor dining into a picnic with the Round Wood Burning Firepit. A tabletop revolves around the firepit so that your guests can place their food items and cups near the fire, keeping them warm.
A large fire can be created with the firepit's deep steel bowl, bringing enough heat for marshmallows to be roasted above it (consider this option as part of your desserts menu). Set up a magnificent ambiance with this firepit, where people can play picnic games as well as enjoy their food. The firepit can be placed in the middle of large seating arrangements.
The firepit features a mesh screen lid for protection against sparks and also has a fire poker. Though it may look heavy, it's lightweight enough for carrying it around. However, it can't be used on a wooden floor.
4. Make it a Barbecue Party Regardless of Season
What would fun outdoor dining be if your guests can't have a barbecue party? This wish can become true thanks to the Revolver Steel Firepit. It's a round big steel firepit that restrains the burning action in a protective cage.
Another cool feature is that it provides a steel grill that fits on top of the firepit, which you can use to give the feeling of a barbecue party. You can use these firepits in the center of gatherings, giving an opportunity to guests to try grilling for fun.
The firepit also comes with a wooden tabletop, so it can be used as a side table too when not in use.
You're Ready To Get A Firepit for Your Restaurant
Outdoor dining has become a popular pastime for family and friends to indulge in, especially due to COVID-19 restrictions. To keep your outdoor restaurant running all year long, provide a cozy and lively environment with the use of firepits.
They come in various sizes and shapes, so you can conveniently choose a design that fits your restaurant's size and style requirements. With the firepit features mentioned above, you can upgrade your outdoor setting's appearance and attract visitors.
About the Author
Myrah Abrar is a computer science graduate with a passion for web development and digital marketing. She writes blog articles for Gas Safety Certs.
