A Real Fix: How Pest ID Oakham Brought a Restaurant Terrace Back into Use

Wednesday 07/10/2026

Orbis, a restaurant in the East Midlands, had been dealing with feral pigeons nesting and roosting around its outdoor dining area. The problem eventually got to the point where the area became unusable and had to be closed.

Pest ID Oakham, which provides pest management services across the East Midlands, already managed the site’s general pest control and recommended bird netting to keep pigeons out.

Previous attempts at proofing had included bird netting, decorative trellis and curtain sides around the covered area. However, poor installation meant the pigeons could still get in.

Working Around the Building

The area to be protected was around 80m˛, but the building’s shape made the installation more complicated.

There was no simple way to cover the whole area with one section of netting, so Pest ID Oakham split the installation into several sections and planned the fixing points around the existing structure.

The netting also needed to sit high enough above the outdoor seating area so it wasn’t too noticeable to customers.

To achieve this, the team used a Keyclamp system of brackets and posts that could be cut to size on site, allowing them to work around the older building's different shapes and materials.

Cleaning the Area

Before the area could be used again, it needed a thorough clean.

Pigeons had been nesting, roosting and fouling throughout the outdoor space, so Pest ID Oakham carried out a full clean as part of the work.

At first, it looked like the outdoor furniture and upholstery would need replacing. However, the team was able to clean and save it, avoiding the cost of replacing it.

The Netting Installation

Pest ID Oakham used PestFix 50mm No Flame Pigeon Netting, along with galvanised steel wire rope, corner and intermediate fixings, brackets, ferrules and long-life Hog Rings.

Pest ID Oakham worked with Pest ID on the project, with a team of three completing the netting installation in around two and a half days.

The Result

Once the cleaning and netting work was complete, the outdoor eating and drinking area could reopen, allowing the restaurant to make the most of the remaining summer weather.

The area has been fully used since the work was completed, with positive feedback from both staff and customers.

“The work completed on our terrace has been transformational! Having spent years working closely with our Pest Controller to try and deter pigeons, we had discussed the use of netting for years, and honestly I wish we did it sooner. The time and energy spent dealing with pigeons and their guano has been reduced to practically zero, whilst having minimal impact on the visual identity of our venue. In fact, some guests have told us the netting adds to the atmosphere and vibe. We are really pleased with the outcome on this project.” Brandon Pontin, Operations Support, Orbis.

The new netting keeps pigeons out of the covered area while allowing customers to use the space as intended.