Is This Our Hottest Summer Yet? Are You Prepared for More?

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Is This Our Hottest Summer Yet? Are You Prepared for More?

According to the Met Office, last year (2025) was officially the UK’s warmest summer on record, and with us experiencing our fourth heatwave this year, it feels like it’s not going away anytime soon.

We’re just about to enter August and have recorded more days above 30°C than the whole of the infamous 1976. It is also the first year on record that has reached 35°C in May, June and July, while overnight temperatures have been running at record levels for this stage of the summer.

So, What Does This Mean?

The Met Office states that “As the climate continues to change, the UK is likely to see more frequent and intense heatwaves. A Met Office study highlights how UK heatwaves could become longer and hotter due to escalating climate trends, with an estimated 50-50 chance of seeing 40°C again in the UK in the next 12 years. While individual weather patterns will always vary from year to year, long-term observations continue to show rising temperatures across the UK climate.”

I.e. it looks like it’s going to keep happening…

How Can You Prepare?

There are a number of ways that you can prepare, including investing in structures that provide permanent shade and shelter in your outdoor area, such as a commercial canopy.

Commercial canopies create shaded areas that are much cooler than the full sun and provide your visitors a place to escape from the intense sun whilst still enjoying time outside on your premises.

Why Invest in a Commercial Canopy? Pop Up Umbrellas are Much Cheaper

Correct, pop up umbrellas are much cheaper; however, there’s a reason for that. They only provide minimal shade, they cannot be used in high winds, they need to be taken down out of hours, and they need replacing often, they are also vulnerable to theft and vandalism.

Commercial Canopies, however, can provide large areas of shade – many of our canopies feature unlimited lengths and widths as big as 16 metres, this allows you to cover large waiting areas, outdoor dining areas, entertainment areas and much more.

Because they are permanent structures that have been designed to withstand the UK’s weather, there’s no need to spend time taking them down at the end of the day and setting them up in the morning, they are always there, providing the shade and shelter you require.

The materials used and designs mean the risk of vandalism is greatly reduced, as they have no moving parts, unlike temporary umbrellas, and because they are permanently fixed in place, there is no risk of theft.

Our polycarbonate roof panels are vandal and shatter resistant and are up to 200 times stronger than glass, making them the perfect choice for covering your new canopy. They also provide high UV protection – up to 98% for many canopies, making the area under your new canopy much safer than a temporary, pop-up umbrella.

Looking for Recommendations?

It depends on what kind of area you are looking to cover however, below are not only my favourite canopies but also our customers’ favourite canopies too, and therefore the canopies I’d recommend looking into first:

Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy

Ulverston Umbrella

Tarnhow Dome Freestanding Timber Canopy

Ready to Make the First Move?

If you’d like to find out more about our commercial canopies and how they can provide your premises with the shade and shelter you desperately need to keep your outdoor area user-friendly going forward, get in touch today. Call us on 0800 389 9072 or email sales@ablecanopies.co.uk You can also contact us here.

Able Canopies Ltd. design, manufacture and install commercial grade canopies, shade sails, awnings and shelters across the UK. We specialise in servicing the education, leisure, healthcare and retail sectors and have extensive experience working with schools, councils, architects and contracting firms.
For more information on our products and services please contact us

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