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- How the app predicts sun on pub patios using shadow simulations
- From a late-night hack to a top-ranked lifestyle app in the UK
- How Sunseekr earns money and built brand partnerships
- Features users rely on when hunting for sunlit seats
- Scaling the map: international rollouts and community mapping
- Recent updates and future development plans
- How you can pitch in to grow the sun map
On a sunny afternoon in London, an architect’s simple craving for an iced coffee sparked a digital idea that now helps tens of thousands find sunlit tables across city streets. What began as a personal tool to dodge cold shade has become a popular app mapping which pub patios, cafes, and restaurants are basking in sunlight at any given hour.
Sunseekr, built by Egyptian-born architect Mo Dawod, turns public building data into live shadow simulations so users can pinpoint outdoor spots that are actually sunny. The project took off faster than he expected and has grown into a full-time endeavor that blends urban data, community mapping, and seasonal features aimed at anyone chasing a warm seat on a terrace.
How the app predicts sun on pub patios using shadow simulations
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Sunseekr models the sun’s position against city geometry to show how shadows fall across outdoor seating throughout the day. Rather than relying on weather-only forecasts, the app uses available data about building footprints and heights to calculate where sunlight will reach.
The technical approach includes:
- Using publicly available GIS data to reconstruct building outlines and elevations.
- Simulating the sun’s path hour-by-hour to trace moving shadows across mapped outdoor areas.
- Tagging venues as sunny or shaded based on those simulations and surfacing the result on an interactive map.
Thanks to this method, Sunseekr can tell you whether a favorite pub garden is going to be in full sun during your planned visit — or whether it will be obscured by a neighboring building’s shadow.
From a late-night hack to a top-ranked lifestyle app in the UK
Mo says the first version was thrown together after an evening walk in central London. Frustrated by not knowing which cafés had warm, sunny tables, he sketched a digital map that night and shared it online. A Reddit post set off a viral wave of interest almost immediately.
Within days the project climbed to the top of the UK lifestyle charts, a surprise that convinced him to leave architectural practice and focus on developing the app full time. What started as a convenience tool quickly became a product with wide appeal: people wanted to plan their outdoor drinks and meals more precisely than weather reports allowed.
How Sunseekr earns money and built brand partnerships
After proving the concept, Mo explored ways to sustainably run the service while keeping access for users. He locked in sponsorship deals and added premium features for venues.
- Brand sponsorships: Last summer, Sunseekr partnered with Aperol so the brand could highlight sunny spots ideal for an Aperol Spritz.
- Venue promotion: Businesses can pay an annual fee (currently around £350 per year) to upload photos, map their outdoor space, and receive priority placement on the app’s explore page.
These streams help support ongoing development and keep the core map accessible to the public.
Features users rely on when hunting for sunlit seats
Sunseekr mixes practical alerts with simple visual cues so users decide quickly where to go. The interface is built around fast answers for people choosing a table or planning an outing.
- Live sun/shade icons: A sun icon marks spots currently in sunlight; a moon-style icon signifies shade.
- Hour-by-hour predictions: See how much sun a venue will get across the day so you can time your visit.
- Notifications: Get pinged when a tracked venue becomes sunny.
- Venue info: Opening/closing times, photos, and community reviews help confirm that the place is right for you.
How venues can use the app
For restaurants, bars, and cafés the listing upgrades offer a low-friction way to show off outdoor spaces. Upgraded entries can include:
- Photographs of patios or gardens
- Mapped seating areas so the sun simulation is more accurate
- Priority placement in search and exploration features
Scaling the map: international rollouts and community mapping
After early success in the UK, Sunseekr expanded into other European markets such as Germany and Spain. But one major challenge remains: mapping every outdoor area accurately is time-consuming.
To keep growing, the company is asking users to help map local venues. Community contributors can upload photos, outline garden spaces, and flag discrepancies — an approach that speeds coverage and improves accuracy.
More than 250,000 people have used Sunseekr so far, and community input is central to extending its reach beyond major cities and into smaller towns.
Recent updates and future development plans
Mo says the app has been completely rebuilt ahead of the busy outdoor season. That overhaul focused on improving mapping precision and adding user-facing tools designed for both casual searchers and venue owners.
- Improved outdoor-area mapping so hour-by-hour sun counts are more reliable.
- Smoother onboarding for venues wanting to add photos and define their seating footprints.
- Expanded notification and favorite-location functionality so users don’t miss a sunny table.
As the platform matures, the team aims to keep the balance between free community access and commercial features that sustain the business.
How you can pitch in to grow the sun map
If you want to help Sunseekr cover more pubs and patios, there are straightforward ways to contribute:
- Map a local venue by outlining outdoor seating and uploading photos.
- Share your favorite sunny spots on social channels to attract more users and mappers.
- Suggest improvements or report inaccuracies through the app’s feedback tools.
Community contributions accelerate coverage and make the sun-seeking experience better for everyone who prefers their coffee, pint, or aperitif with a little warm light.
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I remember last summer, trying to find a sunny spot at the pub was a nightmare. This app sounds like a game-changer! No more squinting at Google Maps, just a tap to catch those rays. Cheers to technology!
Man, back in my day, we had to squint and gamble on a sunny spot at the pub garden. This app predicting sunny beer gardens with shadow magic is genius! Cant wait to snag some rays without the blind guesswork!
Man, I remember wandering around the city, trying to find a sunny spot for a drink. This app couldve saved me from all that hassle! Makes you wonder why no one thought of it sooner, right? Cheers to technology making life easier!
I remember last summer, struggling to find a sunny spot at the pub. This app sounds like a game-changer! No more squinting at shadows to catch some rays. Cant wait to check it out and sip some cold ones in the sun!
Man, I remember being the go-to for finding sunny spots at the pub. Now Sunseekrs doing it for everyone? Wish I thought of that! Bet theyre making a mint off this genius idea! Cheers to the sunny beer gardens, mate!
Mate, I feel ya! Used to be the sun commander at the pub too! Sunseekrs are onto something, eh? Probably raking in the dosh with this bright idea! Lets toast to more rays in the beer garden, cheers!
Man, I remember scrambling for a sunny spot at the pub like it was a gold rush! This app is like having a treasure map for outdoor drinkers. Talk about a game-changer! Cheers to technology actually making life easier for once!
Man, back in the day, we had to squint and gamble on sunny spots at the pub. This Sunseekr app is like a lightbulb moment! Wish we had this tech sooner. Time to upgrade my patio game!
Man, I remember the days hunting for that perfect sunny spot at the pub. This apps a game-changer! No more squinting at Google Maps. Just swipe, check those shadows, and soak up the rays. Cheers to technology, mate!
Ah, mate, I hear you loud and clear! Finding that primo sunny spot at the pub was a proper mission, wasnt it? But now, with this app in the game, its like weve unlocked a cheat code for the perfect chill session. No more squinting at Google Maps like were deciphering hieroglyphics! Just swipe, check the shadows, and bask in the sunshine. Technology really coming through for us sun worshippers. Cheers to that, cheers to sunny days, and cheers to you, mate!
Man, back in my day, wed just squint at the sky to find a sunny spot at the pub. This apps like having a personal sunseeker in your pocket. Whats next, a beer-fetching robot? Cheers to technology!
Mate, I hear ya! Technologys takin over everythin. Soon well have robots pullin pints and makin small talk while we sit there like dummies. But hey, gotta admit, a beer-fetchin robot doesnt sound half bad! Cheers to the future, eh?
Man, I remember strugglin to find a sunny spot at those crowded patios. This app sounds like a game-changer! No more squintin in the shadows for me, bring on the sunlit pints!