Please help us, plead traders
‘NOW MORE THAN EVER WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES’
BUSINESSES in Derby are calling on people to support them as the second Covid-19 lockdown draws to an end.
Areas in England will return to tiers with differing restrictions, depending on infection rates, once the lockdown finishes next Thursday. And, although it is not yet known what tier Derby will be in, businesses are calling on people to help them as they struggle through the downturn.
Paul Harris, of Derby Brewing Company, which owns four pubs and supplies others with beer, says: “Now more than ever we need to support our local businesses. We need people to support not just our pubs, but all our local industries and businesses.”
BUSINESSES in Derby are calling on the public to give them their support as the second lockdown comes to an end.
Local authorities in England will be placed back into tiers with differing restrictions on what businesses can and cannot open, depending on Covid-19 infection rates, once the lockdown finishes next week.
However, there is still mystery on exactly which tier Derby and its surrounding areas will be placed in, something that could have a huge impact on businesses already feeling the pinch after a month of lockdown.
Despite this, businesses in the city are calling on people to take advantage of the potential loosening of restrictions and help them as they continue to struggle through the economic downturn.
Paul Harris, managing director of Derby Brewing Company, which owns four pubs and supplies others with ale, says for some businesses in the city, it’s a case of supporting them now, or not seeing them again.
He said: “Now more than ever we need to support our local businesses. We need people to support not just our pubs, but all our local industries and businesses.
“You need to support them now because otherwise that business might not be there in the future.
“The bigger businesses have more reserves, it’s the smaller local businesses that really need your support.
“When the pubs reopen please come and visit us. If you are shopping for Christmas, please shop local. We are all in this together.”
Mr Harris said that he felt the Government was unfairly targeting the hospitality sector in the new tier system.
He said: “It just feels like we are the sacrificial lamb. If we are driving the problem [of increasing case numbers], we could understand, but we aren’t. Our industry is one of the safest there is, I think we are only responsible for 2% to 4% of infections. We spent a lot of money making sure our businesses are safe.”
He added that he was hopeful trade, which has dropped by more than 90% since the second lockdown came into effect, will l improve as places reopen. Mr Harris said: “I’m determined mined that we will ll be here going forward. There are positives happening, we are just working with a hand tied behind us.”
Bally Rangi, manager of Beauty Box, a salon in Stenson Road, said she had not seen the rush she was expecting since the announcement that lockdown would end next week.
She said: “Since we’ve heard them saying we can open we’ve been cleaning and decorating ahead of Christmas.
“We aren’t getting as many phone calls compared to how it used to be. People are worried to come to us, even though we are strict with our PPE and our salon is huge so we spread people out.”
She added that her business, and others like it, need people to support them while they can.
She said: “December is normally very busy because of Christmas parties and people flying abroad to see family but 70% of that isn’t happening th this year.
“We “W can’t raise our prices because many man of our customers aren’t working wo either. We need help from fr the public and the Government.” m
Vijay Janagal, who owns Bombay Cafe and Co, in Abbey Street, says for new businesses s such as his, the need is even gr greater.
H He said: “We’ve not had any supp support from the Government as we’ve only been open for six months. Durin During lockdown my business has dropped by 75%.
“Customers are not coming out, a lot are buying their food from stores. We ar are still paying bills and wages.” He added that while the reopening of some businesses was a good sig sign he hoped pubs and bars n nearby would open again soon. He said: “I was getting a lot of passing trade from people who were in bars and pubs. I was getting a lot of customers that way and we need that to come ba back.”
C Councillor Chris Poulter, leader of De Derby City Council, said he had been given no indication what tier Derby will be put into when lockdown ends.
He said: “We were in Tier 2 before and the numbers are similar now. We will have to wait and see. It’s clear to me it looks like tiers are going to be even more defined this time.
“Clearly it’s going to be more restrictive than last time but there are certain aspects of Tier 3 where it’s not as restrictive as lockdown. “Restrictions are going to be reviewed if the numbers are coming down. We shouldn’t become complacent otherwise we will be up and down like a yo-yo.”
It’s the smaller local businesses that really need your support. Please shop local. Paul Harris of Derby Brewing Company