‘It’s been a tough time for everybody - we’re happy to reopen’

LEICESTER has taken another big leap out of its long lockdown with the latest easing of the coronavirus restrictions, writes Dan Martin.

The city’s hospitality sector has been hit particularly hard by the measures in place to try to stop the spread of the virus and is now making up for lost time.

Many bars and restaurants have been brimming with punters – some still on a high from Leicester City’s historic FA Cup triumph on Saturday – who were pleased to be able to escape inside venues on yet another showery May day.

But while the city centre again finds its feet there are concerns that increased socialising could lead to a rise in infections and then potentially a return to restrictions.

The latest infection rate for the city is 46.3 cases per 100,000 people – twice the national average.

Bobby’s restaurant, in Belgrave Road, welcomed a good number of customers back.

Owner Dharmesh Lakhani said: “It’s been a tough time for everybody – we’re happy to open again and we just want to make sure we open as safely as possible so we don’t back into another lockdown.”

City centre director Sarah Harrison said: “It’s just brilliant and, especially on the back of what happened on Saturday in the FA Cup, it feels like a very good time for Leicester and everyone is so pleased to be reopening.

“I am going out for a meal tomorrow and I’ll be going to the Curve theatre later this week, too as well as going to a friend’s house for a meal on Friday. It feels like we’re getting back to normal.”

The relaxation of the rules has allowed theatres to invite back audiences, but Curve, in the Cultural Quarter, is hanging on a little longer until Thursday, when it will reopen as a 533-seat socially distanced auditorium, with audiences enjoying live performances from all four sides of the stage.