Prague city councillors have approved new rules that will make it more transparent which establishments can obtain a contract to lease public space in the capital for the purpose of operating a restaurant garden.

The rules contain several basic principles. For example, the capacity of a restaurant garden will not be allowed to exceed the licensed indoor capacity of the establishment. If the establishment does not have sanitary facilities, it will not be allowed to have a restaurant garden except for a so-called day garden, which is two tables, each with two chairs. This policy reflects the desire for restaurant gardens to be a complement to indoor establishments and not a substitute for them. Restaurant gardens will also be allowed within a maximum distance of 50 metres from the entrance to the premises.

"The restaurant garden should ideally be located immediately in front of the facade of the building in which the establishment is located. However, there are situations where this is not the case, or where there are multiple establishments that could apply to lease the public space. To date, it has not been clear how the City decides to whom an area in the middle of a square, for example, will be leased for the purpose of operating a restaurant garden, which may have raised some questions about preferential treatment of certain operators. I believe that hospitality entrepreneurs will welcome the fact that the city's decision-making in this matter will now be more transparent and predictable," summarises Adam Zábranský, Councillor for Property, Transparency and Legislation.

In the event that more than one operator has the right of first refusal, the area will be leased to them according to their mutual agreement, or divided equally, or leased according to the result of a tender for the highest price for a period of three years.