Chef Thomas Navas and assistant manager Marvin Odillard of Le Petit Bistro. 0629300

RESTAURANTS and pubs taking part in the alfresco experience on Sunday paid £100 for the privilege.
Each needed permission and a licence to sell alcohol outside, with £50 of that going to the Greffe and another £50 to the parish constables.
Deputy Jack Honeybill, of the Town Centre Partnership, said that was the only negative aspect of the scheme.
‘I think it was a very good initiative but I don’t think it’s been well thought out,’ he said.
‘I had a number of people complaining about the cost of getting an alfresco licence.
‘But everything else has been positive.
‘I felt that perhaps Culture and Leisure could have helped to get some discount.’
Those who operated an alfresco area said that the cost had been worth it.
‘We want it to happen next year,’ said Mark Pontin, of the Ship & Crown.
‘We want to have tables and chairs outside. We hired out tables, chairs and plant but if it goes ahead next year, we will buy them.
‘We had to go to court [for the licence] which for just two Sundays is a bit expensive but the reason we don’t mind paying is because we want to do it next year. We paid for the live music as well which was popular. We served over 200 meals that day.’
Boathouse manager Alban Chapeau agreed.
The restaurant is taking part again this weekend.
‘It was quite expensive but it worked really well,’ he said.