During lockdown how are businesses coping? And how will they come out of it?

“I’ve been using the time in lockdown to get jobs done in and around the pub, painting the outside and then looking inside at what we can do in terms of giving the place a new look.

“We were lucky in we had started to run our stock down, being aware of lockdown and the threat of the place being closed down. We hoped to get through Mothering Sunday, but that wasn’t to be and we closed on the Friday.

“I know other pubs have lost a lot of stock, thousands of pounds worth, but I’ve been quite fortunate.

“We are cracking on with Christmas menus and things like that. We hope we will be open by then, but I feel we will be lucky if we are open by September.

“It’s suck it and see, but there’s no way things are opening quickly here.

“If we have to reduce the operation because of social distancing it will hurt the business, I can do 76 people and the table will turn over two or three times a night. Social distancing means we wouldn’t be able to get as many people in and in turn that means our costs need to be looked at and we have a really loyal staff team here.

“From our point of view we have overheads, mortgage to think about. We have plans in place for a caravan site here, started work in February and now it has stood still.

“This is my 51st year in the trade. I am terrified the impact on the industry will be devastating. A free trader can close his pub down and live there, but a tenant could be left homeless, with no business as well. Some companies are unscrupulous asking for 50 per cent rent, how can they expect it?

“Missing the whole of the summer is devastating for us. The weak period is post-Christmas to April, then we need the summer take to get us through because November is quiet before Christmas.

“We had an 11-week road closure last year which hit us and now this has come along.’’

Stephen Picton, pictured right

“I’ve been a taxi driver for 25 years in Hartlepool and this is the toughest of times. I have been volunteering with the Poolie Time Exchange in town to help out.

“I’m not the type of person to be quiet for a few weeks so doing this is brilliant.

“We are delivering now 1,200 meals a week thanks to the FE College who have let us use their training kitchen after we started with 50. They have also given us the use of three minibuses to help distribute.

“People are helping out in all ways and it’s really keeping me busy because taxi driving is non-existent these days.

“There’s a handful of lads out there, coming out 9am to 6pm and only making about £30 – normally you would make that in an hour or two on a Friday night.

“Same lads really are out morning, noon and night. Taxis rely on the pub trade, on restaurants, on clubs. The job centres are shut so people aren’t getting out and about .

“Doctors appointments are non-existent and the business of getting people to and from appointments has gone.

“Social distancing in a taxi is difficult. Some lads have health issues like asthma and as soon as they are told to be out of action for 12 weeks their cars are parked up, but the council still want fees for those three months.

“Will drivers get a three-month extension? We still have all the fees associated and this will take us a long time to recover from financially."

Maggie and Keith Bell, Crook Hall and Gardens

“On Friday, March 20 we were looking forward to a busy weekend of celebrations. We had a wedding on the Saturday and were fully booked for our Mother’s Day afternoon tea the following day.

“Things didn’t go quite as planned! The government announced that all restaurants, cafes and pubs were to close that evening and the country was to go into lockdown from Monday.

“It seemed surreal. Looking back I think I was in a state of shock but at that point there was no time for panic. Our fabulous staff swung straight into action.

“The priority was to contact the couple who were due to be married the next day and make a new plan. Then we got in touch with all our afternoon tea guests to offer them vouchers or takeaways. In the end the wedding was fabulous and Mother’s Day was a great success, but boy was it stressful!

“The hall and gardens are now completely closed. We have had to furlough our staff and postpone weddings and events.

“This is our home as well as our place of work and we are used to sharing it with hundreds of visitors every day – we miss them.

“The gardens are looking absolutely glorious so we are looking forward to the day when we can safely open our gates again. We have already begun to make plans for the ‘new normal’. We hope to be able to offer takeaways for guests to enjoy in the gardens – we have lots of space and sheltered areas so social distancing will be easily arranged.

“The hardest thing is not knowing when, or how, we will be able to reopen, but we are really encouraged by all the supportive messages which we have had from our regular visitors. We can’t wait to welcome them back."

Freddie's Fish and Chips, Stanhope

Gillian Flanagan
Freddie’s Fish and Chips, Stanhope

“We are the only fish and chip shop open in the dale, but are not as busy as normal with all the caravan parks and holiday homes being closed. We rely on the trade they bring in and this year most holidays have been cancelled.

“We have stayed open for locals, people can call and tell us when they want to collect to minimise contact. Many locals are very grateful to us for being open, we are the only fish and chip shop open between Crook and Penrith.

“We don’t do deliveries but we are happy to help out. A few weeks ago we made fish and chips for the vulnerable residents up the dale and they were delivered by a team of volunteers.

“We have a large frontage with 14ft of space and so social distancing can be adhered to, and we have been complying with guidelines. We take it all very seriously and so do our customers.

“We do not know when we will be back to normal. It depends on the holiday homes and when they can reopen, but that is up in the air at the moment. I hope it returns to normal soon but as long as people still want fish and chips we’ll be here.”

David Clay

David Clay
Clay’s Garden Centre, Washington

"We are about 80 per cent down on this time last year with having to close.

"With the best will in the world we are trying to service our customers with contactless home deliveries. That's the only way we can operate within guidelines. The health and safety of customers and staff has to be of paramount importance.

"It is really difficult because this time of year would be one of our busiest periods with bedding plants and the like.

"It has been widely reported in the media that £200m-worth of seasonal plants may have to be destroyed UK-wide if we are forced to remain closed until June.

"This would mean the industry would face an overall loss of £1.6bn. The effects on independent garden centres would be catastrophic.

"I fear that, without urgent government intervention, the business that has taken three generations of my family to build and nurture could be destroyed with one fell swoop.

"I also have a team of loyal staff, who are now furloughed and some have been part of the Clay’s family for many years.

"I have a combined duty of care and sense of responsibility to do everything I can to ensure that they have a job to return to.

"It is not only my social responsibility, but also my heartfelt desire to be as loyal to every one of them as they have been to me.

"I have no embarrassment in admitting that this is something that weighs heavily. Sleepless nights and constant knots in my stomach are only two more factors that I have had to come to terms with.

“There’s a chain store, specialising in housewares, next door to our premises which has remained open. I am of the firm opinion that garden centres are equally, if not more, essential than a DIY or homeware store.

"Gardening is proved to have significant health and well-being impacts: keeping trim, reducing the risk of strokes, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and dementia.

“We need practical and responsible ways of encouraging and supporting people to stay at home, whilst also remaining physically and mentally healthy.

"Gardening provides a great opportunity to exercise in an enclosed area where social distancing measures can be easily maintained.

"While there are those who may argue that the re-opening of garden centres would contribute to an increase in the number of non-essential journeys being undertaken, I disagree entirely.’’

Simon and Rachel Leadbetter of The Mowden.

Simon Leadbetter
The Mowden, Darlington

“A £25,000 government grant has brought peace of mind and we've felt very supported so far, but that could change quite quickly.

"The grant will mostly be eaten up in another three to four weeks when the bills come rolling, including rent and utilities. We would then either have to dip into our savings or turn to the government again, which is worrying."

“We employ 20 staff and many have families and bills just like me. I'd like to give them clarity on how the pub will run in the future, but right now I can't because we haven't been advised.

"I'm open to every scenario which they could throw at us, but the worst part is not being able to put a plan in place and give my staff that reassurance."

"I've tried to plan for all scenarios. I imagine we will be told to reduce customer numbers, or perhaps have a mandatory dinner and drink booking service, but these are only guesses.

"If we do run on reduced numbers, I think unfortunately we will have to increase our prices to keep in the black, which is a huge shame but we won't be the only pub or restaurant forced to do so.

“We have been running a free volunteer meals-on-wheels service to vulnerable people in the local area, purchasing ingredients through community donations, during the lockdown.’’

Rebecca Lombard-Earl

Bexbrides, Hurworth, Darlington

“I’m working closely with my clients to help them reschedule,  offering to re alter their dresses at no charge if they have paid in full and had their dresses completed for their original date.

"It is difficult as it is moving most of my income probably to a completely new tax year. It will mean my workload is heavier next peak season.

"But until they announce what is happening with weddings, the majority of couples already in the affected time frame have postponed to 2021 or 2022. Many couples are in limbo as there do not know weddings in July, August, September and October will go ahead.

"There is the worry Covid-19 will still be here in the autumn or make a resurgence next spring even if it does tail off.

"I sell a mixture of bespoke, off the peg, vintage/ retro and upcycled.

"So at the moment I'm trying to focus on building my Etsy shop up with more items,  smaller affordable items like veils and accessories. I’m also building a range of extremely affordable dresses for simple ceremonies if weddings become downsized for a long period of time.

"I feel strongly that the government should be giving further grants to wedding industry business, especially those without premises like DJs, cake makers etc.

"Also prom and wedding dress shops need to be looked at slightly differently to a normal clothes shop,  as out stock outlay is very expensive and we already have credit agreements with stock suppliers,  so taking on further debt in the way of government loans is very worrying.

"Now that the rush to help everyone at once has passed, I believe wedding and event business from venues to bridal shops to bakers to cars all need looking at.''