Eh its hardly a one size fits all case. These companies employ and pay community taxes as well as a host of others. If it is feasible they should be allowed to do this. Get rid of the parking after 5pm and put out seating. Sidewalk is free and there is extra space.

Tbh I love when restaurants have huge outside patio, courtyard spaces.

In some places here in Sweden, restaurants with sidewalk tables have an extra "lane" for pedestrians installed in parallel over the side of the street, like a protected boardwalk

We can get rid of the parking spots and put the side walks there while ahopa can use the space outside their shop for whatever they see fit. It's good for communities to have people out and doing things, not just shoved away inside somewhere.

Extra free floor space. Or do those cafes and restaurants pay some sort of permit fee?

Because I hate pedestrian bottlenecks caused by cafe tables on the footpath. Even worse when groups of tourists stop walking right there to stare at the menu and discuss whether to have lunch there or somewhere else. Move aside, please. Not all of us are on holidays.