Hotel bosses have put forward plans to erect an outdoor dining space to help the business cope with the challenges brought by the coronavirus crisis.

The Dunes in Barrow has submitted proposals to Barrow Council for a retractable outdoor awning and glass screens.

People will able to eat and drink outdoors under Government guidelines from April 12.

A statement submitted on behalf of the Hawthwaite Lane hotel to council planners said: “The Dunes (formerly the Fairway) Hotel was originally built in the 1980s.

“The hotel has recently undergone a significant modernisation and refurbishment resulting in a high-quality hospitality development.

"Like all hospitality businesses, the hotel has suffered as a result of the Covid pandemic.

“New protocols and procedures are required to enable the hotel to provide safe dining for guests and diners.

“Primarily, the tables need to be distanced resulting in a reduced capacity.

“It is proposed to add a new retractable canopy awning with perimeter sliding glazed screens to create a flexible dining and hospitality space.

“A new external covered area will enable the hotel to provide additional dining areas in a sheltered external environment.

“In the short term, a new sheltered area will allow the hotel to operate in these very difficult times.

“In the long term, the accommodation will provide flexible, high-quality space which will complement the existing hotel facilities.”

The plans also went into detail about the structure.

They said: “The structure is to be attached to the east side of the existing function room over part of the existing patio terrace.

“The new covered dining area will be 6m deep x 15m wide.

“The awning ridge is 3m high and the eaves are 2.2m high creating a low-level, single-storey, mono-pitch structure.

“The canopy is an electronically-controlled retractable PVC awning in three bays.

“The walls will consist of toughened laminated structural glass panels which will slide to the sides.

"The frame is made of steel which will be powder-coated grey to match the colour scheme of the hotel.”