Hampshire business owners ‘over the moon’ at being able to reopen but publicans face an anxious wait

With the lockdown set to be replaced on December 2 by a return to the regional three tiered system, gyms, non essential retailers, hairdressers and beauty salons will all be allowed to open to the public across all the tiers of local restrictions.

The news came as a ‘massive relief’ to Gym01 Fratton owner, Gareth Matthews, who said: ‘It’s very welcome news as the business would have been in real danger of not being able to reopen if we had to remain closed for another month. The lockdowns have been a massive blow and during the first one I received £2,100 of government support which was an absolute insult.’

The announcement will also be a relief to both staff and members.

Gareth added: ‘I’m responsible for 25 livelihoods and the staff can’t wait to get back to work. My phone has been buzzing all afternoon with messages from people who are looking forward to getting back in the gym.

‘With the dark nights meaning it’s difficult to exercise outside, gyms are needed now more than ever.’

It was a sentiment shared by Devon Thorpe, 23, who owns 365 Fitness in Bishop’s Waltham which had only been open for nine days before having to close due to Covid restrictions.

Devon said: ‘We had been running classes on Zoom and are over the moon we can reopen. We have already had messages from our members for whom exercise is a massive part of their life.’

For Devon, gyms being able to reopen extends far beyond the financial security for individual businesses.

She added: ‘Even the NHS have been encouraging the importance of exercise during lockdown. Exercise is also vital for our mental health which there has been a massive emphasis on during the pandemic.’

In order to help ensure peoples’ safety the gym has introduced temperature checks, one way systems and a rigorous cleaning routine.

With face to face trading having been restricted to ‘essential shops’ during lockdown, the county’s independent traders are also ‘delighted’ to be able to reopen.

Karen Hall, 50, who owns Karen George Ladies Boutique in Emsworth said: ‘Lockdown has been horrendous for me and I’m thrilled we can open again. I had been waiting to be given the nod and I was absolutely delighted when I heard the news.’

Fellow trader, Charlotte Cornelius, who owns Charlotte Cornelius Jewellery Design in Southsea, feels the decision will be particularly significant for retailers in the run-up to Christmas.

Charlotte commented: ‘I’m definitely relieved we can reopen to the public although I will still be operating a policy of one person in the shop at a time. Being able to open leading up to Christmas is vitally important.

‘Many independent traders will have stocked up on products in the build-up to Christmas and it’s really important to be able to sell their goods in order to keep going.’

However, despite their joy at being able to reopen, all business owners were unanimous in stressing the importance of continuing to follow the Covid regulations after lockdown.

Charlotte commented: ‘It’s important to keep the R rate below 1 (the point at which the rate of transmission will increase) and hopefully people realise their actions will have consequences. It’s important to follow the rules to ensure the virus remains at low levels and we can continue to have more freedom.’

Devon added: ‘I think it’s vital people follow the rules to ensure we are in as low a tier as possible and to make it easier for everyone else.’

However with cases in Hampshire and Portsmouth having increased, publicans and restaurateurs are fearful of being placed in tier three which would mean such businesses would have to remain closed. In tier one, pubs and restaurants can reopen and have an extended closing time of 11pm with last orders at 10pm. In tier two, pubs can open as long as they are serving a substantial meal.

Before the second lockdown Hampshire was in tier one. Sara Pollard-Dambach, who recently took over the management of the Roebuck pub in Wickham, said: ‘We serve food and so as long as we are in tier one or two then we can reopen. I’m praying we are in one of the lower tiers. I have a friend who runs a pub on Hayling Island who doesn’t serve food so anything more than tier one will mean she can’t reopen.

‘Lockdown has been awful and I had to furlough all of my staff. We continued to offer a takeaway service which was vital to keep the business going so we didn’t go bankrupt.’

SEE ALSO: Coronavirus: Updated list of Hampshire Covid-19 case numbers for Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, East Hampshire, Winchester, Southampton, Basingstoke, Eastleigh, Test Valley, New Forest, Rushmoor, Hart and Isle of Wight

With Portsmouth’s most recent infection rate hitting 288.5 per 100,000 people and the council’s leader, Gerald Vernon-Jackson, warning the city will ‘almost certainly' be in tier two or tier three, Pompey publicans face an anxious wait to find out their fate.

The new owner of the Milton Arms in Southsea, Chrissy Sloan, 33, commented: ‘We are due to reopen on December 5 and I really hope we are in tier one or two. It’s really important we follow the rules to ensure we come out of lockdown in one of the lower tiers.’

Pompey supporters will also be hopeful the city avoids tier three restriction with the prime minister announcing that up to 4,000 sports fans can return to stadiums in tier one and two locations following the end of lockdown.

Pompey’s chief executive, Mark Catlin, said: ‘If there is an opportunity and we are lucky enough to be in one of the tiers where fans can return, we will be doing all we can to try to make that happen.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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