A Williamsburg seafood restaurant is stepping up its entertainment with a new live performance stage.
Berret’s Seafood Restaurant & Taphouse Grill has applied for a special use permit with the city’s Architectural Review Board to place a stage on the business’ lawn for live musical performances, according to documents from the city.
Jennifer Austin, office manager for the restaurant, said Berret’s has had live music for years and the bands come from all over Eastern Virginia because the business enjoys supporting local musicians. The bands are generally small, acoustic groups that help provide a musical ambiance that isn’t overpowering.
At first the performances took place inside the restaurant but eventually moved outdoors to give more guests at the grill the opportunity to enjoy the entertainment.
But the musical guests had been performing on a lawn that sometimes became muddy or didn’t have any cover, she said.
This new entertainment stage will hopefully fix that.
The stage will be discussed during Tuesday’s Architectural Review Board meeting — as part of the conceptual review for the special use permit that allows musical performances on the stage everyday from May to October.
The proposed stage is a wooden platform raised 18 inches above the ground, adjacent to the restaurant’s patio. The board approved the stage earlier this summer and recommended approval for the restaurant’s special use permit.
Staff also recommends the deck’s exposed wood be painted or stained gray in order to match the already-existing exterior of the building. Additionally, it is recommended that plants or a screen be placed to hide the undercarriage of the stage from Francis and North Boundary Street.
The Architectural Review Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the Stryker Center. For more information, visit the city of Williamsburg online.
