The Palm unveils plans to create huge new beer garden ahead of April 12 reopening

The multi-venue site in Hylton Riverside already had two existing outdoor spaces, its beach area and street food garden, which were popular for outdoor food and drinks last summer.

Now The Palm is extending its outdoor area into a carpark at the front of the site with a huge outdoor seating and entertainment area.

Shipping containers have already been brought in to start creating the area which will have a stage as well as a number of street food traders.

A stretch tent will also span across the seating to protect against the North East weather.

It takes the outdoor capacity, with social distancing, at the venue from 150 to 650, making it one of the largest beer gardens in the city.

General manager Pete Skelton says they can’t wait to welcome people back when they reopen on April 12.

Restaurants in the North East have not been able to open for anything but takeaway since before the second lockdown on November 5 after being placed into Tier 3 when that lockdown eased.

Pete said: “We can’t wait to welcome people back. We opened the Beach last summer and it was really popular, but it was not as big as we wanted it to be.

"This time around we’ve had more time to prepare and Beach Box will essentially wrap its arms around The Palm and the beach and street food garden will become part of that.”

Beach Box will be open seven days a week and will feature daily entertainment including a quiz night, a Bingo Bango night, cocktail offer nights, DJs and dancers.

There’s been much anticipation for the reopening of the site, which will take place for outdoor food and drinks from noon on April 12.

The first wave of bookings for peak periods were snapped up in under six minutes.

Duty manager Steph Addison said: “It’s really exciting because it’s like a fresh start for us. We can’t wait to see people again.”

Beach Box will start to take shape in the coming days and talks are ongoing with local traders who’ll be announced closer to the time.

::To make a booking at Beach Box see here.

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