Have hot buttocks has never had so much literal meaning as at the Palais de la Bière in Pont-Audemer (Eure). Its owners, Philippe Debray and his son Guillaume, offer heated benches for the comfort of their customers on the terrace. “The idea was really to find an ecological solution and an alternative to the current patio heater, whether radiant parasols or gas-powered patio heaters which cost a lot and have an extremely high carbon footprint” explains Guillaume Debray, also director of the company Hotbench, created last April.
Our bench consumes ten times less than radiant heating – Guillaume Debray
Father and son had made estimates, heating their terrace of twenty meters would have cost them sixty euros per day by a heating parasol, prohibited from March 31, 2022. There, “it comes to six euros, and even then, if it turns continuously, because as soon as it is up to temperature, it cuts out” says Guillaume Debray.
Local design and production
Benches are created from recycled aluminum and “everything is done by a boilermaker in Pont-Audemer” advances Guillaume Debray, “The assembly, the manufacturing, everything is done in Pont-Audemer. Then, in our premises, we do the final assembly, with the resistors, the insulation”. With the key, significant savings in energy consumption: “300 watts for a 1.2 meter bench and 700 for the two meter bench” explains Philippe Debray. The benches are equipped with thermostat up to 40 degrees and, on request, USB port to connect phone, computer or tablet.
Hotbench is available in several colors and finishes. The bench can also be in the colors of your company, the main market of European society, but even individuals can buy a bench, “I also have one at home for the slightly chilly summer evenings to eat under my pergola” says Philip.
For the moment, Hotbench has not yet sold any benches and is looking for sales representatives in Normandy, Île-de-France and Hauts-de-France.
Customers delighted to have hot buttocks
Ten benches have been installed at the Beer Palace during the Beaujolais Nouveau evening in November and stayed on the terrace, to the delight of the customers: “Every evening, we see it, we have people on the terrace” explains Philippe Debray, whereas normally “in winter, when it’s cold, only smokers go out to smoke their cigarettes and then people drink outside”.
Marcel, installed right next to the front door of the brewery, finds that “nice” even if “sometimes it’s too hot” confides the octogenarian who “lives in an apartment and likes to be outdoors”. At the other end of the terrace, Ethan and Flore enjoy: “It’s warming up” says the young man, outside without a jacket while the temperature that day was five degrees.
– Laurent Philippot
Bétina and Céline did not know this bench system, “we’re warm, it’s nice” says Céline, smiling big as her girlfriend is wrapped up in her down jacket, her hands under her thighs., but unfortunately, as Céline says, “we can’t stay here all day, we’ll have to leave” with the assurance of coming back very quickly, for a hot coffee, outside.