Businesses across West Midlands feeling benefit of sunny weather as greater numbers come through doors

Across the West Midlands, the weather has remained warm and sunny, with many people basking in temperatures in the mid 20s ahead of the May bank holiday weekend.

With the weather having stayed nice, it has seen an increase in people going out around towns and cities and into the country and, as a result, businesses have seen a benefit through increased footfall from visitors.

In Lichfield, Poms on Bird Street has felt the benefit of the good weather, with marketing manager Sally Ashworth saying it had brought in more people, both inside and outside the restaurant.

She said: "It's always good business for us when the weather is nice because we get a lot of people sitting outside enjoying our seasonal drinks, which we launched recently for our spring and summer menu.

"That means that people are coming in to enjoy ice lattes, ice Matchas, milkshakes, smoothies and even cocktails, and a lot of people do like to sit outside.

"When the city centre is busy on days like this, it does benefit us as there's more people about and they do like to stop here."

Owner James Pomlett also agreed that more people in the city centre helped the restaurant, saying: "The weather being good means more footfall in the city centre, with people walking through from Beacon Park.

"You also get the tourists coming in from outside the area, so it does have a positive effect on the business and it looks really good to have people sitting outside."

The good weather is also a boon for pubs in the region, particularly ones with beer gardens that allow people to enjoy a drink and a meal outside.

One pub reaping the rewards is the Fox at Shipley on Bridgnorth Road in Wolverhampton, with landlord Neil Taylor saying everyone was happier when the weather was nicer.

He said: "When the sun is shining, it brings more people out and about and everyone is happier as a result, and we've got a very large beer garden at the front of the pub, which sits alongside a busy main road.

"People are able to sit outside and chill out and watch the world go by, so it's nice for everyone to have a feelgood factor.

"We usually have a good lunchtime custom as it is from the more mature generation, but when the sun comes out, it brings in the families and the couples a lot more, so it definitely has a positive effect on us as a business."

For outdoor attractions such as Canalside Farm in Great Haywood in Stafford, the nice weather had a number of benefits, not just from increased footfall, but as owner Anna Barton explained, also providing more fresh produce.

She said: "The warm weather always helps us and it's even bringing on the strawberries quicker as well because we'll have them by the second weekend in May, which is earlier than previous years when the weather has been a bit more miserable.

"The cafe always benefits from the good weather as well, with increased ice cream sales, and with our location, people tend to go for a walk around us, plus we have cycle routes and circular walking routes, so people will come in for a drink or breakfast, then do a loop around.

"We're also on the edge of Cannock Chase, which really helps, and we see a lot more families coming over when the weather is nice, as well as dog walkers, so I think the nice weather provides a real boost."

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