First, socially-distanced steps back to normality
Relaxation of lockdown welcomed by city’s hospitality trade
LEICESTER’S pubs, cafes and restaurants and hairdressers are gradually starting to reopen after the relaxation of the Leicester Lockdown.
On Monday, premises in the city that have been barred up since March, in a bid to suppress coronavirus infections, were able to reopen to customers.
Venues in the city that have endured an extra month without trade because of the UK’s first localised lockdown, now look very different to those forced to close nearly five months ago.
One-way systems have been marked out in many pubs which have had to clear out tables and chairs to make space for social distancing measures.
Protective screens have been put in place over bars and counters and diners and drinkers are being asked to take steps already familiar to the rest of the country such as leaving their addresses and phone numbers to aid contact tracing.
Kevin Shepherdson, landlord of the Old Horse, in London Road, reopened on Monday morning and was delighted to welcome customers back.
He said: “I’m serious when I say that the tills have been shut for so long that we had to put WD-40 on them because they were sticking.
“We have had to do all sorts of preparation, including removing nine tables to make space.
“It’s been hard work but we are really, really pleased to be open again.
“Of course, on a Monday lunchtime everything has gone very smoothly but we know we might have some more challenges on Friday night.
“Normally every landlord wants to see his pub packed, but we are in the very strange situation that we don’t want to see that just yet.”
Kevin said that normally 350 people could fit in at a time but restrictions on standing and social spacing requirements meant capacity was down to about 200.
He has spent about £4,000 on getting the pub ready to reopen.
He said: “It used to be a simple thing coming to the pub. You’d walk up to the bar, get your beer, sit down and drink it but now there are so many signs up telling people what they need to do you feel like you’ve read War and Peace before you get your first drink.
“I think people will get used to the new normal pretty quickly, though.”
Not all city pubs have yet reopened, with Firebug, in Millstone Lane, and Revolution, in New Walk, remaining boarded up.
Others have taken the opportunity to refurbish their premises during the enforced closure.
Wygston’s House, on Jubilee Square, plans to reopen at 11am on
Wednesday.
Owner Geoff Thornton said: “We still have a few things to sort out but we are getting restocked.
“We have been shut for so long a couple more days won’t make much difference.”
Geoff is hoping to get permission to have tables for 50 to 60 people on the grassed area on the square, just outside the medieval pub. He said: “Our capacity’s down inside but we hope we can make it up outside.”
Mo Barber and Mark Wickwar have reopened The Men’s Room barbers, in King Street. Mo said: “It’s been tough and it’s a waiting game now to see how quickly things start to pick up. We are getting some bookings.
“We have had the council round to check we are okay to go - with social distancing and hand sanitisers.
“It’s good to be back but I would say some time away from work has also been good for my family.”
Miguel d’Ameida, who has run Almeida’s coffee shop on Guildhall Lane for 21 years, is also pleased to open again but described 2020 as a write-off.
He said: “You can’t just flick a switch and have things go back to how they were.
“We have basically had zero income since March - though we have had the same support everyone else has from the government but we have had a one month extension to our lockdown.
“We are going to try to rebuild from here but I can see it being Spring before we get back to where we were.
“What I hope will happen is that landlords will be patient - that they see it is going to take time to build up trade again and that they adjust their expectations. A lot of places won’t reopen again and there will not be a rush of people looking to take them on, so hopefully landlords will be sensible and realise it is better to have less than nothing.
“You look around and how quiet it is.
“I think we’ll be lucky to take 20 per cent of what we would normally this month.”
He is hoping for extra support from the government for city businesses to recognise the extra pressures they have faced compared with the rest of the country.
The Department of Health and Social Care has said a further £2.6 million will be made available to city businesses, but it has not been made clear how that will be administered. The city council has £10 million of an initial £85 million allocated by Whitehall to support city businesses in its bank account but will have to return it to the Treasury unless it is granted permission.
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has said he will continue to press the government to release it.
He said he was pleased to more businesses opening for first time in months.
He said: “It has been a very challenging time for the hospitality sector in Leicester, which has had to endure a month longer of lockdown than anywhere else.
“I don’t think it was ever expected that every place would immediately fling its doors open but I think we will see a gradual reopening of businesses as people regain the confidence to come back to the city centre.”
Leicester City Council inspectors were out checking newly reopened businesses to make sure they have put in place measures for social distancing and have hand-sanitiser stations in place. still see
We know we might have some more challenges on Friday night
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