FIGHTING BACK TO NORMAL
‘IT GIVES US HOPE’ - ROUTE OUT OF COVID NIGHTMARE WELCOMED
PUBS, gyms, restaurants and hairdressers across North East Lincolnshire are looking forward to opening and making money again - now clear dates have been set out for the UK to come out of lockdown.
Boris Johnson set out a significant list of plans for the next four months to get businesses and life back to normal again, some of which have been closed for the best part of a year.
The first stages of the lockdown easing will start as early as March 8, when all children will go back to school as well as two people being allowed to meet for recreation, such as for picnics and coffee. However, most businesses will be looking forward to April 12, which is the earliest date that non-essential shops can reopen. This is also the date for personal care businesses, such as hairdressers and nail salons, as well as pubs and restaurants being able to serve people outdoors.
The rules will mean two households or six people can meet for a pint or a meal in outdoor spaces, with the “substantial meal” rule now scrapped.
From May 17, the restrictions on eating and drinking outside will be lifted, with bars and restaurants allowed to have people indoors in two households or groups of six people.
From June 21, the government is hoping that all major restrictions can be lifted both indoors and outdoors.
This has come as good news to bars and hairdressers in North East Lincolnshire, who can now make plans to get their businesses up and running again in the next seven weeks.
Steven Roper, director of Lujo Group, said: “This gives people hope. With everyone being stressed with their mental health and missing friends and family, it’s welcome news.
“For our businesses it’s also welcome news. On Sea View Street we have outdoor space for both of our bars there - Havana Cabana can have three tables outside while Arthur’s House can have five tables.
“We also have outdoor space at Lids in Scartho, too.
“We’re particularly relieved to hear about June, though, when restrictions are hopefully going to be lifted.
“We’re going to be hopefully taking provisional bookings for people to reserve tables for when that happens. We’re also planning a new menu for all of our locations to celebrate fully reopening.
“We’ve been closed for several months now, and in the past year we will have been closed for all but three to four months. If it continues beyond that point, we will definitely need further support. “Anything is better than being closed.We can handle outdoor service and restrictions indoors for now, it’s exciting just to have a plan in place.”
Another business owner that it a bit more cautious about the news is Carla Austin, who co-owns Lavender Hill Hair Salon in Cleethorpes.
She said: “It’s shocking to think of being closed for another seven weeks. I know it’s got to be done, but I just know a lot of people are suffering at the moment.
“Some are going to be worried about whether they have a business to come back to. I think people are just going to have to open their doors and just see what happens.
”We’ve had people calling us today and offering us double our normal rates to get their hair cut. I know it might make you feel better, but it puts so many people at risk, it’s not fair. “When we reopen, we are going into it as if it’s a new business, putting all of our time and effort into it.
“It’s good to have a plan in place that we can work off, even if it is a long time away. We will be spending that time getting our shop ready to open in April.”
Richard Montague, operations director of the Fisherman’s Arms in Cleethorpes and The Royal Oak in Holton-le-Clay, is feeling positive about reopening.
He said: “It’s nice to finally have a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s been a difficult time for everyone and it’s good to see a plan announced.
“Having actual dates, even if they are subject to change, is a major benefit for us, as opposed to them reviewing things every two weeks. You can’t run a business like that. “This means we have to wait a little bit longer but we can work hard towards getting things sorted for the opening day. “We’ve been positive here, and have even developed a new app so people can order from their tables. Everything has been very forward-thinking for the business and also supportive for the staff.
“In the pub industry there has been no such thing as competition throughout Covid19, we’ve all been working together and helping each other out, so we all get through this. “Waiting an extra month works a lot better for us, it gives us time to get things sorted as well as giving the government more time to drop the case numbers and ensure we’re safe enough to reopen.
“We are currently speaking with the cleaning company who did the fogging in our pubs, and will be getting them in next month to make sure our pubs are immaculate by the time we reopen.
“We’ve already got a Plan A, Plan B, and a Plan C ready for whatever is thrown at us, including a table plan for the outdoor spaces at our pubs.
“There’s also plans in place to do some more improvements to our outdoor areas and getting everything ready for April. “Hopefully, when everything is sorted with Covid, we will see a big rise in people coming out and enjoying pubs and restaurants again. The last time we had a pandemic like this, the roaring twenties were born, so let’s hope we see the same thing happen again!
“For now, we’ll just take things as they come. But it’s great news and a positive step in the right direction.”