Innovative and creative business is always welcomed in Launceston,
The proposed tram cafe in Launceston's Brisbane St Mall
offered by Launceston businessman,Roger Smith
as a bicentenary gift to the city in 2004 is an example of this creativity and innovation.
Some questions do need to be asked however about the nature of this new enterprise
in the Mall as the operation will change the way the mall operates.
Some of the questions,I ask here also apply to the other alfresco and on street dining experiences
in the City.
But first an overview of the nature of alfresco dining which has increased over the last few years
throughout the City of Launceston.
Some of the popular places to go for a meal or a quiet drink include:
Stillwater Cafe to the side of Kings Park
The Old Seaport Boardwalk
The Powerhouse Cafe at the Inveresk Railyards
and the Transit Centre on the site of the former Cornwall Square.
The above are located off the footpath on their own lands.
Popular alfresco pub settings include the Royal on George,The Galaxy and The Metz . The Metz on St John would be the most obtrusive experience preventing pedestrian access on occasion,with their pullout screen virtually turning the footpath into an annex of the hotel. The Metz does however share the pedestrian way more fairly on it's York Street frontage.
The Galaxy in Brisbane Street has alfresco dining but provides it over the footpath,rather than on the walkway.
The experience in The Avenue is pleasant with the bakeries providing seating,the success of the Banjo operation has resulted in their doubling of the size of their store and installing concertina doors right across half the frontage to bring the outside in. These bakery tables do however result in quite an amount of litter material along The Avenue.
There are currently 2 on street dining experiences in the Brisbane St Mall, Pages and the Coffee Republic.
The Coffee Republic occupies a small space between 2 street planter boxes,while Pages Has the license to operate under the existing Mall roof. Many citizens are not happy with this cattle pen like operation. The advertising on the surrounding barriers concerns some people.
In The Quadrant on street dining is confined to the Centre of the Mall immediately opposite the serving restaurant. Quadrant Operators include the Elaia Cafe and the Icaf tea and coffee shop.
Suburban experiences are provided in Ann St,East Launceston andUpper Charles by the Elaia Cafe and Sporties Marquee.