‘I work from 7.30am and only make £4 or £5 the whole day’
Mansfield Road was at one time known as the ‘bleak mile’ but has been transformed in recent years thanks to a diverse range of independent businesses that have set up shop there – but that was before the pandemic. JOSEPH LOCKER visits some shops in Sherwood to find out how they have adapted to the challenges of lockdowns, trading restrictions and reduced footfall
RESIDENTS and business owners in one of Nottingham’s busiest and most vibrant shopping streets have described adapting to a new way of life during the pandemic.
Mansfield Road, which stretches from the city centre, up through Sherwood, Daybrook and Redhill, is one of the busiest transport routes in Nottingham.
The road is known for its independent shops, particularly in Sherwood, having been transformed by the community from what was once known as the “bleak mile”.
Before the pandemic struck during the first part of 2020, independents had been thriving, but many say they have had to continuously adapt to these unprecedented times.
Hamid Nayebian, who has lived and worked in the area for at least 34 years, now owns Sherwood Booze in Mansfield Road.
He says the usually busy road has been “so quiet” in recent months, eerily so, leading to his business taking a huge hit.
“I come in and work from 7.30am and I make £4 or £5 in the whole day,” he told the Post.
“Before the pandemic we got around 60 to 70 customers every day. It is the main road into Nottingham, but it is so quiet at the moment.
“I don’t think we will be back to normal until next year. Definitely not in 2021.”
Despite the huge loss in footfall, Mr Nayebian remained positive behind his counter, hoping residents and shoppers would return to make the road as busy and as vibrant as it once was.
Many of the businesses along Mansfield Road are award-winning and the chief executive of the Sherwood Business Centre, Mike Douglas, said the shops had been a lifeline for residents during the pandemic.
Prakash Loss, now retired, has lived in the area for more than 30 years.
He now volunteers at the Waste Nott food store in Mansfield Road, which allows customers to come in with their own packaging to shop, in a bid to reduce plastic waste.
While Mr Loss said the pandemic had been “hard financially” for the notfor-profit business, online orders were stacked upon a counter waiting to be collected.
He said residents had been “loyal” to the colourful businesses which line the street, helping them get by.
“Because we are a food shop we could remain open, but because we are all of a certain age we have found it difficult to staff it,” he added.
“We have only been open two days a week, Thursdays and Saturdays.
“It has been hard financially. We have just been ticking over.
“We closed for two or three months for the first lockdown but we did not get any money and we have rent to pay, so we started up again.
“But we could not open as normal
We have been doing online orders for about four months. It has not been overwhelming, but we are getting there.
Prakash Loss
because of the staff. We are lucky because we have some really good customers.
“People are still aware of the environment despite the pandemic. There are six of us here but we have got about 10 more than come in when the shop is closed to make up orders.
“We have been doing online orders for about four months, it has not been overwhelming, but we are getting there. We were getting some really good business up until March. It has knocked us a bit.”
A Sherwood resident, who did not want to be named, said it had been brilliant how people had “adapted” to the new way of living.
He said: “Even now for those people who do not or cannot wear a mask, shops are letting them come to the door and stay outside to buy something.
“I think it is good how people had to adapt. We’ve all had to.”