The Lock Restaurant, Portishead Marina, Bristol

An outside dining area was needed for this newly-opened restaurant sited in the heart of the vibrant Portishead Marina development near Bristol. The restaurant fronts onto a wide public walkway by the lock gates, which is often busy with pedestrian traffic.

IOTA’s Granite planters were used to enclose an area of the walkway, using a combination of trough planters and taller tapered pots. The grey granite stone complemented the dark terrazzo outdoor furniture, and created a distinctive and attractive dining space without obstructing the diner's view of the marina. Using pots can be an extremely cost-effective way to define an outdoor eating area, and has the advantage of being completely flexible – for example, when the space needs to be reconfigured in line with seasonal trading patterns.