Wakefield cafés could be allowed to open until midnight at weekends
Proposals have been put forward to relax restrictions to allow businesses to stay open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Business owners holding a pavement café licence are currently authorised to operate between 7.30am and 10pm.
Wakefield Council’s licensing committee has been asked to consider the change by a number of licence holders and representatives of the night time economy.
The move is supported by the council’s city centre management group, Wakefield Business Improvement District (BID) and Daniel Wilton, the council’s cabinet member for for communities and poverty.
Councillors have been recommended to agree to a temporary relaxation of opening hours until June 2026.
The committee could then make the move permanent, subject to public consultation.
The report said: “The temporary move to a midnight cut-off for pavement cafés on Friday and Saturday nights would continue to support the night time economy within the district until permanent measures are agreed.”
According to figures in February this year, there were 51 active pavement café licences recorded in the Wakefield district, including 37 in Wakefield, seven in Pontefract and two in Castleford.
Thomas Wales, chief executive of Wakefield Business Improvement District (BID), said at the time: “We lobbied for this important decision, knowing how crucial outdoor space is for businesses, particularly in these challenging times.
“This initiative not only supports the growth of our cafés, restaurants and night time economy but also helps enhance the vibrancy of our high streets.
“We’re pleased to see the council’s continued commitment to the local economy and to working alongside Wakefield BID to create a thriving city centre for all.”
Councillors will decided on the proposal at a meeting on July 23.
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