Warwickshire businesses react to Prime Minister's plans for 'roadmap' out of lockdown

Businesses in Warwickshire have been reacting to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plans for a 'roadmap' out of lockdown.

Today timetables were given for when certain restrictions would be lifted - including those impacting the hospitality sector.

The owner of a Leamington restaurant which has been closed more days than open since it launched last year, says that hospitality businesses have been ‘put to the back of the queue again.

The roadmap stated pubs and restaurants are not likely to be allowed to open indoors until mid-May, with limits on groups and social distancing still in place.

We Love Pizza finally launched in September despite taking over the lease of the Regent Place unit in February last year – in which time his business has only been able to trade for 60 days.

And owner Jose Ribeiro estimates he is losing more than £2 for every week the restaurant is closed.

He said: “The successful roll out of the vaccination programme gives hospitality businesses and society in general a clear exit for the existing lockdown.

“But the hospitality industry is going to the back of the queue once again and that will come with even more job losses and businesses collapsing.

"This is an industry already on its knees and further delay on re opening will stall any glimpse of hope for a recovery and is not based on any safety data.

“That is no reason to be back of the line, evidence shows hospitality venues are very safe due to the investment business owners made to comply and go beyond any requirements.

“It’s important the government follow the data, but data shows we can move swiftly, safely and sustainably with an early April opening.”

Now that we have a date in May let’s hope the Prime Minister words “cautious but irreversible” are true so we can move on and upwards.”

Jose and his team have maintained deliveries and takeaways throughout the lockdowns but are now, as a business which imports many of its ingredients from Italy, also feeling the effects of Brexit.

He said: “With the coronavirus pandemic, we already needed to cut the weekly order quantity. Now, Britain’s departure from the EU threatens to make the journey more cumbersome, expensive, and slower—if it’s even possible.

“Since Brexit, each individual item has to be coded and logged in transportation documents to be checked at the border before entering the UK, complicating the process to the point where it may no longer make sense.

"I need three to four hams a week, 10 bags flour, 50 tins tomatoes. I can’t buy a whole pallet so the amount of paperwork is a nightmare.

He added: “The reason we import our products is not to save costs. The main reason for this set-up isn’t cost, but authenticity and quality. It is about identity, and it will be hard to maintain that."

Despite all of this, Jose is determined to continue his work with a local homelessness charity, Helping Hands, to provide surplus pizza to their soup kitchen at the end of each day.

It was also announced that UK 'staycations' will be permitted no earlier that April 12.

Jo Carroll, co-owner of Winchcombe Farm., which is a glamping retreat, said: "Now we have an indicative date for reopening, planning can now start to rebuild our business after a six month-long closure

"We call on the government to underpin the recovery of the UK hospitality sector with support, including continuing the business rates holiday and extending the 5 per cent VAT rate.

"This is vital to the hospitality sector returning to be an engine of economic growth as we emerge from lockdown.

“Consumer confidence is high and we’ve already had a massive surge of bookings over the weekend in anticipation of today’s announcement, which we attribute to press speculation about reopening, the success of the vaccine rollout programme and people realising that they need to book now to make sure they can grab a great British staycation before everywhere is fully booked.

“Demand for self-catering accommodation in the UK will far outstrip supply this year, as it’s one of the safest and Covid-secure ways to holiday; you get to choose exactly who you share your space with and there are tough industry standards to make properties Covid- safe.

"Plus, there’s assurance from the CMA that your money is safe and will be returned to you should further Covid-related restrictions be imposed at a later date.”