West Norfolk businesses remain realistic, saying 'April 12 is a target'
West Norfolk businesses have welcomed the government's new roadmap for reopening this spring, but many are waiting for confirmation they can reopen.
The hospitality industry has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic with many only able to open for a couple of months last summer, but now a target has been set for April 12 when outdoor hospitality will potentially be able to reopen.
Gary Kerr, owner of town centre restaurants Liquor and Loaded and WaffleOpolis, has managed to remain open throughout the multiple lockdowns by adapting fast and launching a Covid-safe home delivery and pick-up service for customers.
He said: "All the way through we have maintained strict procedures and introduced many systems taking on board the government's advice and predictions. We welcome their roadmap but shall remain very open-minded and taking many precautions regarding social distancing and maintaining a safe environment.
"The hospitality industry has taken a battering and the government's contributions has contributed to us staying in the game. Our team have worked tirelessly for a whole year and our customers loyalty has been overwhelming. This has kept my spirits high and our 'No Surrender' attitude firmly in place. We look forward to the future. We embrace change."
However, some business owners are feeling less confident about the government's roadmap and are still awaiting official guidance.
Rozi Woods, landlady of the Live and Let Live pub in Windsor Road, Lynn, said: "We've got no idea, it's so up in the air. We haven't been given any guidance yet by the government.
"I want to say yes I'll reopen, but I honestly don't know until we get more information. We don't know how people will move around the bar or go to the toilet safely yet."
It's a more positive story for beauty salons in West Norfolk after the plans for easing restrictions revealed they too would hopefully be able to reopen as of April 12.
Josie Atkins owns Rose Beauty, her own home beauty salon in Reffley. She has spent lockdown building a new cabin in her back garden for future beauty treatments and is excited to welcome clients back, but doesn't plan to open for bookings just yet.
She said: "I'm very reserved this time. I don't want to get too excited because we've been let down so many times before and April still feels a long way off. It's been an emotional rollercoaster so I'm trying to be realistic. I'm really pleased at the news and it's nice to have a date, but I haven't opened the appointment book just yet as it's not confirmed.
"What I'm quite pleased about is this time beauty salons have been included in the update and we're being allowed to open sooner. Last time we were left behind but I feel like this time it's been more considered."
She added: "I never felt I was at risk anyway as I work alone rather than in a busy salon, I've always felt very safe."
Many business owners have used lockdown as an opportunity to develop the services they offer. Mark Flowers, who owns Motiv8 24/7 on the North Lynn Industrial Estate, has used lockdown as a chance to expand the fitness centre ready for when lockdown restrictions ease.
He said: "We've got to do whatever we can to tackle mental health and get people back in the gyms. No-one knew what to expect but we've expanded the business and will be going 24 hours a day, we;e been upgrading all of our equipment and will also be offering NLP and counselling.
"As ex-forces and an ex-boxer, I've never been someone to roll over. I could be negative about how tough it has been, or I could focus on what I can do to help people to take back control of their lives."
Speaking about the provisional dates for reopening as announced in the government's roadmap, he said: "I'm not taking it as gospel, April 12 is a target."
