COSTA Coffee, Caffe Nero and Turtle Bay are among the high street names joining Oxford's local businesses in hopes of setting up alfresco dining as Covid restrictions ease.

The chain restaurants and cafes join local names like Jericho Coffee Traders on the High Street, and Viny's Cafe on North Parade who have made applications for a pavement licence to Oxford City Council.

A total of eight pavement licence applications are listed on the city council's website from the last month alone since March 24.

If approved, it would mean more hospitality businesses could join the ranks of those who have set up European town square-style dining or makeshift beer gardens on closed roads in Oxford.

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The licences are all currently listed as being 'out for consultation' meaning members of the public can give their thoughts on whether placing tables and chairs on certain stretches of pavement is a good idea.

Mary Clarkson, the city council's cabinet member for the city centre, culture, and the Covered Market, said the authority was hoping to work with businesses who wanted to place tables and chairs outside their premises but might not have wide-enough pavements.

Ms Clarkson said: "We want to help hospitality to recover as much as possible and it is a question of treating each of these applications on its own merits.

"We don't want tables and chairs on narrow pavements pushing pedestrians on to the road obviously but where there is space we will do everything we can to make it happen."

Alfresco dining on George Street last year. Picture: Ed Nix

Alfresco dining on George Street last year. Picture: Ed Nix

If granted a licence, Caffe Nero and Jericho Coffee Traders High Street stores would be able to have outdoor seating along the pavement.

On North Parade, which is currently pedestrianised Viny's Cafe And Burrito Valley has applied for a pavement licence.

Turtle Bay at Friars Entry, off Magdalen Street also wants to offer alfresco dining, as do more businesses on George Street, which closed last year to traffic so ten restaurants could wine and dine customers outdoors.

If successful, Chozen Noodle and Thaikhun would be able to offer outdoor seating on George Street this year.

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On Turl Street, the Missing Bean coffee shop is applying for a licence, and further afield from the city centre, the newly opened Costa Coffee on Headington's London Road wants outdoor seating too.

Cabinet member Ms Clarkson added that the roadmap out of lockdown seemed to be going well for Oxford city centre.

She said: "Footfall is definitely up, there was a great excitement when things opened up nearly a fortnight ago now. The centre of town seems busier than it did even at times during the summer last year."

When non-essential retailers and hospitality businesses opened on Apri l2, six streets in Oxford were pedestrianised to make way for beer gardens that punters at pubs and restaurants must use while Covid restrictions prevent indoor gatherings.

As reopening began, Tom Hayes, the city council's deputy leader, said there had been a total of 85 expressions of interest from businesses who wanted to set up outdoor seating.

Businesses which already have outdoor seating have previously said it has helped them to return to being profitable after a difficult year of surviving on just deliveries or take-out business.