Region could ‘lose high streets’ as firms fight to survive

RESTAURANT AND pub owners in Yorkshire are worried that independent businesses may not survive as bookings plummet over coronavirus fears.

One restaurateur in Leeds said that Covid-19 could mean consumers “lose the high street”, while the owner of an award-winning pub on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales fears its implications for trade could be worse than 2001’s foot-and-mouth outbreak.

The warnings come ahead of Mother’s Day next weekend and a string of Bank Holiday weekends over the next few months, occasions which would usually lead to fully-booked dining rooms around the region.

Paul Klein, who has owned the Blue Lion in Wensleydale for three decades and employs about 25 people, told that coronavirus is “bigger than” foot and mouth.

“It’s certainly the biggest thing that’s happened since I’ve been in business,” he said, adding: “I’m terrified of being closed down.”

Luke Downing owns Vice and Virtue and two Feed restaurants in Leeds, employing 10 main staff. “We’ve had the most cancellations we’ve ever had this week,” he said yesterday.

“We didn’t have anybody in on Wednesday or Thursday. On Friday we woke up to 22 cancellations.

“We’re in a reasonable position but we won’t survive if this continues for six weeks or months.”

He added: “We do talk to our friends in the industry around here and everybody’s having these cancellations.”

Mr Downing said that independent businesses are doing all they can to make sure restaurants are as clean and safe as they can be. On Mother’s Day, his restaurant Vice and Virtue would usually anticipate serving between 30 to 60 covers, but yesterday was expecting just 12 for next Sunday.

He said: “They’re the ones you are always full, you have to turn (people) away. Not being full on Mother’s Day, it’s very unusual.”

He added: “We could lose the high street because of this – it’s very serious. And it will happen very, very quickly.”

Simon Fogal, of events and public relations firm Chapter 81, is founder of Leeds Indie Food, a team which puts on annual festivals where businesses work together and which liaises with a range of eateries and bars.

He said: “This week is seeing reduced hours come into play and we’re just asking people to help by buying vouchers or using online shops, like a pay forward scheme.

“As we know many run on very close margins, this is a must for those businesses to survive.”

Has had most cancellations he has ever seen.