Local business owners have spoken out about their struggles and how they are adapting to the coronavirus pandemic as a second national lockdown begins on Thursday.
Non essential shops, leisure and entertainment will close from Thursday, November 5 until at least December 2. Pubs, bars and restaurants must also close, except for takeaway and collections — and the government has issued comprehensive guidance on the lockdown rules.
Businesses are continuing to adapt, including online offerings and delivery services, while supermarkets are busy with panic buyers ahead of November 5.
What bars & restaurants are doing
Ronnie Byrne, Duty Manager at the Nosey Parker, told The Lincolnite:”Obviously the situation is far from ideal, but, like everybody, we’re just going to try and take it in our stride.
“We are opening a second dedicated delivery service with a range of meals that are different from our regular menu, to give people more choice, and to give our team the hours they deserve.
“As for the industry, it could be devastating. The government’s ban on takeaway alcohol this time around is preposterous, and could really damage the amazing independent bars in the city.
“Even though we’re all run by different people and different companies, we’re one family, and we never want to see other businesses suffer.”
The Strait and Narrow delivered beer and cocktails during lockdown.
Jez Nash, who owns the Strait & Narrow and The Rogue Saint, said: “2020 has been an unprecedented year for hospitality that’s for sure. It’s been hard to navigate the COVID landscape but this is how the world is right now. However hard it is for us there are people who have lost, sacrificed and faced much harder obstacles than us and still are doing.
“Our goal is to keep staff and customers safe and make sure that when we can reopen that we bring the same high standards of drinks and a safe enviroment like we have done for the last few months – in fact the last eight years.
“We’re waiting on clarification from local and national government to get the green light to continue with the massively popular Strait Crates delivery service that we’ve been running since March for beer and cocktail delivery, locally and nationally. Just because it’s lockdown again doesn’t mean we’re going to leave our customers without the best drinks.”
David Nejrup, Operations Manager at Home, Craft and Curiosity Shop, said: “While the news of the second national lock down is yet another challenge to our beleaguered sector, we understand the rational behind it.
“We would like to thank our amazing team and guests, who have continued to support us at this difficult time. We hope the lockdown will have the desired effect the government wishes to achieve and hopefully we will be allowed to commence trading in December.”
Kine owner Jason Lord-Castle. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Kine will be offering a takeaway service from next weekend (November 14) and owner Jason Lord-Castle said: “Obviously it’s quite annoying that we’re going into lockdown again, but it’s a necessity.
“We are in a lucky position that we’ve been really popular and will still be here once all this is over. It is quite disappointing as we were getting to a point where we were doing exceedingly well and seeing lots of new faces, so for this to happen again is a bit crushing.
“My staff are all smiling and have been fantastic and we’re confident we’ll be back. It is going to be difficult for everybody but it’s a case of use small independents sticking together and helping each other out where we can.”
Luis Abruneiras, son of the owner of Ole Ole Tapas Bar & Restaurant, said: “We will have to close during lockdown, but will continue to do contactless collection as well as delivery, and are joining Uber Eats today (November 2).
“We have had friends in the industry that have been struggling and it is a sad time. I think so many people are uncertain on what is happening. It is a difficult time for us and our family in Spain too, but we’ll stick together.
“We are a family business and we are always going to be here. We are confident we can return in the future and look forward to seeing customers again.”
Hairdressers and beauty salons
Matt Smith, co-owner at The Junxion hair salon, said: “It was sort of expected with how things have been going. It’s not good for any small business, but it’s got to be done or we’ll be in a worse situation.
“Financially it is going to be difficult to everyone and all small businesses, but we have put the year down as making sure we’re surviving for next year and making sure bills are paid, and are confident we’ll be back stronger.”
Laura Fryer runs The Relaxation Studio in Tattershall Thorpe near Lincoln from her home, where Gemini aesthetics and Oak Tree Hills (Reflexology) are also based.
Laura has been running her business for 10 years and will offer online Zoom tutorials during lockdown.
She said: “I’m gutted as we’ve been trying to work to accrue the money back from the previous lockdown and were starting to get back to some kind of normal then this happened.
“I was shut for five months before but was able to send out some NHS care boxes which I will try and do again. It’s going to be very difficult and once we get back a lot of clients are elderly and shielding, and some may lose their jobs so may not have the income to spend on these sort of treatments.
“I just hope that we can reopen by December as the Christmas trade is our busiest time. I am worried more for the fact that the more time people are doing their treatments at home that they may not come back to salons, but I think I’ll be able to bounce back.”
Gyms & leisure
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Tamsin Kilby, co-owner of Energie Lincoln City in the Cornhill, said: “It is a massive kick in the teeth, especially as only around 0.34 per 100,000 cases are from gym visits, which is very low.
“We had such a positive response and membership gain since reopening in July. We are uniquely placed to offer an uplift for people, things that they need even more now.
“We are putting on a wide range of online programmes such as daily classes and Facebook live sessions on areas including nutrition, and new members can still join.
“There will also be challenges via our app which members have access to and we will engage with them to see how else we can help them.”
Kristen Ingraham-Morgan, owner at LN CrossFit on Earlsfield Close, said: “Obviously it is not totally unexpected. We had contingency plans in place as we expected something like this may happen again and we are focusing on the mental health and wellbeing of our members.
“We learnt a lot from the last lockdown, but the financial support won’t be as good as it was the first time so the other concern is minding the pennies and making sure business will be viable.
“I doubt we’ll be open again before Christmas, but we made it through the last one and no doubt will make it through this lockdown too.”
Coaches will check in regularly with members and the gym will also lend out equipment so workouts can be done at home. Zoom classes will be run during lockdown, as well as nutritional challenges.
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There have been 41 new coronavirus cases and no COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday — down from 67 cases and two deaths last Wednesday.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 21 new cases in Lincolnshire, 11 in North East Lincolnshire and nine in North Lincolnshire.
On Wednesday, -2 deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and none in Northern Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county. Fluctuations in data can occur for a variety of reasons including corrected data, misdiagnoses or wrong addresses.
NHS England has reported no new local hospital deaths at the four Greater Lincolnshire health trusts.
On Wednesday, national cases increased by 2,491 to 4,378,305, while deaths rose by 38 to 127,161.
In local news, more than a third of call-outs for Lincolnshire Police assistance are related to mental health issues, as the force has seen spikes in suicide rates affecting young people disproportionately.
This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple lockdowns across the UK, with Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Chris Haward expecting further increases in mental health reports as the county leaves lockdown.
Since Monday, Greater Lincolnshire’s average infection rate has fallen, compared to the England average that has seen a small increase.
Boston, North Lincolnshire, South Kesteven and Lincoln City have seen small spikes since Monday, with North Kesteven remaining the same and the other districts noticing a reduction.
Boston has the 8th highest infection rate in the UK currently.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates up to April 14, according to the government dashboard:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Apr 7 to Apr 14. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
In national news, about of half of the UK population in private households is estimated to have COVID-19 antibodies, meaning they have been vaccinated or were previously infected.
A survey by the Office for National Statistics suggests that an estimated 54.9% of people in England had the antibodies in the week ending March 28. This figure is largely unchanged from the previous two weeks, when the last survey was done.
A major UK trial looking at whether COVID vaccines can be mixed with different types of jabs used for first and second doses is being expanded.
Combining vaccines might give broader, longer-lasting immunity against the virus and new variants of it, and offer more flexibility to vaccine rollout.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday, April 14
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
58,813 cases (up 41)
40,956 in Lincolnshire (up 21)
9,254 in North Lincolnshire (up nine)
8,603 in North East Lincolnshire (up 11)
2,182 deaths (no change)
1,611 from Lincolnshire (down two)
303 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,302 hospital deaths (no change)
810 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
450 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
4,378,305 UK cases, 127,161 deaths
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF the latest update. postcode data includes deaths not in healthcare facilities or in hospitals outside authority boundaries.
A Lincoln-based tech CEO has been included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for technology.
Leo Scott Smith was recognised by Forbes for his work as CEO of Tended, the Lincoln-based tech firm which has famously pushed boundaries with live-saving technology.
He set up Tended at just 22-years-old back in 2017, with the vision of putting an end to avoidable injuries and deaths in a workplace environment.
Since its inception, Tended has expanded massively and now has offices in London and China, as well as right here in Lincoln.
Leo was also included in The Lincolnite’s 2019 30 Under 30 list for Lincolnshire after the launch of his Tended Protect product, a wrist-worn device that detects danger in the workplace.
Leo Scott Smith is the CEO of Tended, based in Lincoln.
It was during a charity visit to Nepal where Leo first had the idea for his technology, realising that if he were to be in danger, he may not be found.
This prompted the beginning of Tended and the subsequent Tended Protect wristband, which can call for help in case of an emergency, and even sends GPS locations to trusted contacts.
In 2020 he continued to innovate and create, launching a vibrating wrist strap that can sense when someone comes within a pre-set distance of you, helping businesses to maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If staff breach a minimum separation distance, their wearable will vibrate to notify them to move away.
Now his efforts have been recognised even further, with famous clients such as Rolls Royce, Network Rail and Siemens all using his company’s technology.
Speaking about his inclusion in the Forbes list, Leo said: “It’s really great to be recognised for such a highly acclaimed award. It’s a huge achievement and a testament to the team at Tended as without them, the award would not have been possible.”
Lincolnshire’s Police Chief Constable says lockdown rule enforcement and relaxing COVID restrictions are the main challenges the force has at the moment, especially with a high demand for holidaying in the summer in coastal areas.
This comes as between 45 and 50 coronavirus breaches are reported each day to Lincolnshire Police.
Chris Haward became the new Chief Constable for Lincolnshire on December 19, 2020, moving his role as East Midlands Deputy Chief Constable, and replacing Bill Skelly who retired.
CC Haward said: “We’re now planning for June 21 [when further restrictions are lifted], and what that might mean to our resources and our resilience.
“We know for the east coast it’s mainly going to be people holidaying in the UK this year, and probably for next year as well, that the demand for holiday homes and caravans across the east coast is huge.
“We’re expecting a real rise in the population through the summer months. So that’s definitely a challenge for us.”
He added: “When we first started COVID enforcement, we were getting between 12 and 15 calls per day about COVID breaches, we are now averaging over 45 to 50 per day. So that’s definitely a big demand on us as we come into the summer months.
“It will be about antisocial behaviour and public order and rowdiness, particularly in our coastal towns.”
Lincolnshire Police handed out eight fines after three house parties in the Ermine area of Lincoln, on the same evening COVID lockdown restrictions eased for outdoor hospitality and non-essential retail shops reopened.
CC Haward said: “I urge people to abide by the roadmap that the government have set out. If we if we take our time, and we do it properly, then we’re more likely to come out of lockdown, and will be able to remain out of lockdown.
“We’ve come this far and for the sake of another two months, let’s just hold on to the discipline that we’ve had.”
He reflects fondly on his first 100 days in the role: “It’s been fantastic. Because of the time that I’ve joined with leading up to March and the new financial year, all the planning has given me an opportunity to go out and meet a good proportion of my officers and get out to some of the stations.”
Lincolnshire Police issued 367 COVID-19 enforcement fines, including those under local lockdowns, between March and December last year.
Eight fines were for breaches of face coverings regulations and another eight for international travel regulations.
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