Twyfords Café – Lusso Bioclimatic Pergola & Frameless Glass Dining Enclosure in Beccles

For cafés, restaurants, pubs and hospitality venues, outdoor space represents one of the greatest opportunities to increase seating capacity and revenue. However, without weather protection these areas can only be used during the warmer months.

This was exactly the situation at Twyfords Café in Beccles, where the owner Richard had a charming but underused outdoor decked terrace hidden behind the main café building.

The space had a wonderful “secret garden” atmosphere, but because it was exposed to wind and rain it was only usable for a small portion of the year.

Recognising the potential of the space, Richard approached Azure Outdoor Living to explore how the area could be transformed into a weather-protected outdoor dining space that could operate throughout the year.

The result was a stunning installation combining a bioclimatic aluminium pergola and frameless sliding glass system, turning the garden terrace into one of the most desirable seating areas within the café.

The Project Begins – A Showroom Visit Sparks an Idea

Interestingly, this commercial project began in an unexpected way.

Richard initially visited the Azure Outdoor Living showroom to explore steel-look aluminium glazing for his own home.

During his visit he was given a full tour of the wide range of architectural products we design and install, while discussing these products, Richard saw our Lusso Bioclimatic Pergola system installed in the showroom.

It immediately sparked a lightbulb moment.

Richard realised that installing a pergola over the garden deck at Twyfords Café could dramatically increase the number of customers the café could serve each day.

Once he calculated the potential number of additional tables and covers, it became clear that this investment would not only enhance the café’s atmosphere but also generate significant additional revenue.

Initial Consultation & Site Assessment

Following the showroom visit, Azure Outdoor Living arranged a full on-site consultation at Twyfords Café to assess the garden terrace and discuss design possibilities.

During this consultation we reviewed:

• The available deck area
• The surrounding building layout
• Structural considerations
• Seating arrangements
• Integration with the existing café entrance

Richard explained that he works closely with a trusted building contractor who would be responsible for reinforcing and renewing the decking structure before installation.

This collaboration ensured the decking would provide a strong and stable foundation for the new pergola structure.

Visualising the Concept – Design Renders

After the consultation stage, our team produced concept design renders to help Richard visualise how the pergola and glass enclosure would transform the space.

These renders showed how the pergola could be positioned to:

• maximise seating capacity
• maintain clear circulation between the café and terrace
• integrate with the surrounding architecture
• create a sheltered yet open garden dining environment

Providing visualisations like this is an important part of our design process, especially for hospitality projects where business owners need to clearly understand how a new structure will impact their venue.

Precision Survey Using Advanced Laser Technology

Once the design concept was approved, the project moved into the technical survey stage.

Our team carried out a full precision survey using Leica Disto plotting lasers and Hilti rotary laser equipment to measure:

• heights
• widths
• finished floor levels
• deck levels
• structural interfaces

This level of accuracy is essential when installing bioclimatic pergolas and frameless glass systems, ensuring the finished installation fits perfectly and achieves excellent accessibility.

The survey data was then transferred into AutoCAD, where our in-house draftsman produced a full architectural drawing package.

These drawings ensure:

• the client knows exactly what they are getting
• the builder understands construction details
• the manufacturer receives precise fabrication information

Our survey and design package is significantly more detailed than most outdoor living companies, helping projects run smoothly from design through to installation.

Pergola & Glazing System Specification

To create a flexible outdoor dining space, the project combined a premium pergola system with frameless glass partitions.

Pergola System

Product: Lusso Bioclimatic Pergola
Construction: Aluminium freestanding structure
Frame Colour: RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey
Louvre Colour: RAL 9010 White Cream
Operation: Motorised rotating aluminium louvre roof
Lighting: Integrated RGB LED strip lighting

The rotating louvre roof allows the café to control sunlight, shade and ventilation. When closed, the blades create a fully weatherproof roof protecting customers from rain.

Frameless Glass Enclosure

System: GSW‑17 Frameless Sliding Glass Partition

Glass specification:

• 10mm toughened safety glass
• Frameless sliding panels
• Aluminium track system finished in RAL 7016

The frameless glazing allows the space to be:

• fully enclosed during colder weather
• opened completely in summer
• protected from wind while maintaining garden views

Installation Phase – Bringing the Design to Life

Once the structural decking preparation was complete, the Azure Outdoor Living installation team began constructing the pergola structure.

The aluminium frame was installed with precision to ensure perfect alignment with the surrounding buildings.

Frameless glass sliding panels were then installed around the perimeter, creating a flexible enclosure that protects the dining area from wind and rain while maintaining maximum natural light.

The Finished Result – A Stunning Garden Dining Room

The finished installation has completely transformed the café’s garden terrace.

What was once a small seasonal deck area is now a beautiful outdoor dining room that operates throughout much more of the year.

The pergola structure creates a stylish architectural feature while the frameless glass panels maintain uninterrupted views of the surrounding garden.

Inside the pergola, the café has created a warm and inviting dining space that customers love.

Project Lead Comment

Dave Mudd – Project Lead

“This was a fantastic project to work on because the space already had so much potential. The garden terrace had a great atmosphere but simply wasn’t being used enough because of the weather. Once the pergola and frameless glass system were installed, the transformation was incredible. It now feels like a natural extension of the café and provides a comfortable dining space that customers can enjoy in almost any weather.”