Firms welcome announcement
NORTH East business owners have spoken of their delight after Boris Johnson revealed his “roadmap”.
Fred Platter, owner of the Tyne Bar, in Ouseburn, Newcastle, said the route out of lockdown suits his business.
He said: “It’s as good as we were expecting. I honestly thought we would have to wait until May to re-open.
“Being allowed to open outside only on April 12 suits as marvellously at the Tyne Bar, we have five times as many seats outside as we do inside.
“My only reservation is allowing schools to re-open in March. Last year when we re-opened in July there wasn’t a second wave, it only happened when schools re-opened.
“You’re safer in a pub than you are in a supermarket. We will be opening up all our outdoor areas and doing table service only. I’m thankful I can get our staff back to some kind of normality.
“I’m relieved we don’t have to wait until May, we have to be thankful for small mercies.”
Patrick Forster, owner of Patrick Forster Barber Shop, on High Bridge, in Newcastle, was also pleased with the plans, saying he and his staff are excited to get back to work.
He said: “It’s great to get a date finally. I think it is a good time, surely all the vaccines will be rolled out by then, hopefully it all goes to plan.
“I can’t wait – people have been messaging me saying ‘can we book in?’ All the girls are saying they cannot wait [to get back to work] they’re so excited.
“I wanted to go back when it was safe, especially when the vaccines have been rolled out. I think that gives them time to do that. I’m happy with that.”
Mike Hesketh, owner of Horticulture a restaurant and bar on Market Lane, Newcastle, cautiously welcomed the plans but raised fears they could disadvantage premises that don’t have large outdoor areas.
He said: “It seems to be very much the light at the end of the tunnel. I am hopeful all the current targets are met and we can realise the path he [Boris Johnson] has outlined.”
Mr Hesketh, who also runs Mish Mash Events, said that plans to ease restrictions in five-week increments mean that venues will be tight on time.
He continued: “It gives us some uncertainty still, it only means that we can plan five weeks ahead terms of my restaurants and bar business and events side of things.
“I’m looking forward to having some great outdoor events this summer, it gives some hope to the hospitality sector in the area.
“We do have a terrace but you have to go indoors to get to it. It is still a bit blurred. When people are accessing bar gardens are they allowed to access toilets in doors?
“We don’t have massive terrace. It gives people with [large outdoor spaces] a huge advantage over people with small beer gardens or none for a month.”