Outdoor commercial heating: extend the trading season
Outdoor heat is a revenue decision, not a comfort one: every week you keep the terrace usable is trading income you would otherwise lose. The only physics that works outside is radiant — heat delivered straight to the guest before the wind can take it.
What is the right heating system for a outdoor hospitality?
For pub, restaurant and hotel terraces, allow roughly 1.5–2.5 kW of radiant output per seated table, mounted 2.2–2.7 m above the guests — and note that only radiant heating works outdoors at all, because there is no air to retain.
The problem with outdoor hospitality heating
Outdoors there is no envelope at all, so heating air is pointless. Gas patio heaters also carry cylinder handling, refill logistics and a poor carbon story that increasingly matters to venues.
Zoning strategy: Heat per table or per seating bay, on occupancy or push-button control.
Options compared
| System | Verdict | Upfront | Running |
|---|---|---|---|
Infrared / radiant panels Short-wave or shortwave-plus radiant units aimed at seating; instant, silent, no cylinders. | Best fit | Low | Medium |
Gas patio heaters Familiar and portable, but cylinder swaps, storage rules and roughly double the CO2 per useful kWh. | Viable | Low | High |
Fire pits and chimineas Atmospheric and popular, but uncontrolled output, smoke complaints and a staffing burden. | Poor fit | Low | Medium |
Outdoor fan heaters Heats air that the next gust removes entirely. | Poor fit | Low | Very high |
Indicative annual heating cost — 80 m², older / poorly insulated
Degree-day method at UK average 2000 HDD, Ofgem price cap (indicative, 2026). Whole-space figures — zoning typically cuts these substantially.
- Infrared panels£1,761/yr
- Air-source heat pump£706/yr
- Gas central heating£635/yr
- Old electric / storage heaters£2,258/yr
What outdoor hospitality heating costs to install
- Per table / two-seat bay£250 – £700
One wall or post-mounted radiant unit.
- Covered terrace (30–60 covers)£3,000 – £9,000
Zoned radiant with timers or push-button guest control.
- Full outdoor scheme with canopy power£12,000+
Includes electrical distribution and controls for year-round trading.
How to size outdoor hospitality heating
| Situation | Sizing guide |
|---|---|
| Per two-to-four-cover table | 1.5–2.5 kW short-wave or medium-wave radiant directly over or beside the table. |
| Covered terrace or pergola | Ceiling or beam-mounted units on a continuous run, zoned by section so half the terrace can be off midweek. |
| Open terrace, exposed site | Higher output and closer spacing, plus wind screening — wind, not air temperature, decides whether guests stay. |
| Smoking shelters and doorways | Single high-output unit on a timer or push-button rather than continuous operation. |
| Balconies and small courtyards | Wall-mounted units angled down at the seating; check reach to the boundary and neighbour glare. |
Disruption and installation time
A terrace installation is normally a one to three day job done before service or on a closure day: fixings to walls, beams or pergola frames, containment, and dedicated circuits with weatherproof isolation. The terrace can typically reopen the same evening.
Regulations and approvals that apply to outdoor hospitalitys
- BS 7671 including outdoor IP ratings, RCD protection and weatherproof isolation.
- Pavement licence and highway authority conditions where seating is on the public highway.
- Planning permission or listed-building consent for visible fixings on a listed or conservation-area frontage.
- Fire-safety separation from awnings, umbrellas, timber and gas cylinders.
- Statutory nuisance considerations for light spill from short-wave heaters near residential neighbours.
Guidance summary only — confirm the current requirement with your local authority, inspector or a qualified engineer before ordering work.
Expensive mistakes in outdoor hospitality heating
- Mounting units too high, so a large share of the output never reaches guests.
- Leaving heaters on all evening rather than zoning them to occupied sections.
- Choosing bright short-wave units next to bedroom windows or in a dark-sky area.
- Using patio gas cylinders when a permanent electric circuit was cheaper over two seasons.
- Fixing to an awning or structure that is not rated for the unit's weight and heat.
When radiant heating is the wrong answer
If the terrace is enclosed enough to count as an indoor space, treat it as a room and heat it accordingly. And if the covers only justify heating a handful of nights a year, hire or portable units are the honest recommendation rather than a fixed installation.
What to ask before you sign
- What output per table, at what mounting height and angle?
- How is the terrace zoned, and can sections be switched independently?
- What IP rating and isolation are proposed for an outdoor environment?
- Is a pavement licence, planning or listed consent needed for the fixings?
- What is the cost per trading evening compared with the extra covers it earns?
Outdoor commercial heating: FAQs
Reviewed by the Infrared Heat Solutions technical team · Last updated July 2026 · Data sources: Open-Meteo, Ofgem, Energy Saving Trust