Opening restaurants sooner is 'vital for Leeds' wellbeing' say owners as wait sparks 'long-suffering' financial concern

Boris Johnson has announced that hospitality venues in Leeds will be able to reopen for outdoor service from mid-April at the earliest, and indoor service not for a whole five weeks after that at least.
We spoke to the owners of Wapentake, Brontaè’s Bar and Restaurant, Giorgios Italian and Tattu in Leeds about Boris Johnson's recent hospitality annoucementWe spoke to the owners of Wapentake, Brontaè’s Bar and Restaurant, Giorgios Italian and Tattu in Leeds about Boris Johnson's recent hospitality annoucement
We spoke to the owners of Wapentake, Brontaè’s Bar and Restaurant, Giorgios Italian and Tattu in Leeds about Boris Johnson's recent hospitality annoucement

Restaurants, pubs, bars and other venues part of the hospitality industry have not been open in Leeds since before the start of the second national lockdown at the beginning of November.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced today in the House of Commons that the industry must remain closed until April 12 at the earliest, when outdoor service might be able to resume - and that indoor service cannot reopen until May 17 at least.

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Dale Spink, who is just 25 years old, was planning on opening Brontaè’s Bar and Restaurant in Horsforth in February in this year after having worked for the last 12 years to build a hugely successful personal business combining D's Meal Prep and Le Voyage Dining Experience, with hundreds of Leeds residents as customers.

Dale Spink, who is just 25 years old, has worked hard for the last 12 years to build a hugely successful personal business combining D's Meal Prep andLe Voyage Dining Experience, with hundreds of Leeds residents as customers.Dale Spink, who is just 25 years old, has worked hard for the last 12 years to build a hugely successful personal business combining D's Meal Prep andLe Voyage Dining Experience, with hundreds of Leeds residents as customers.
Dale Spink, who is just 25 years old, has worked hard for the last 12 years to build a hugely successful personal business combining D's Meal Prep andLe Voyage Dining Experience, with hundreds of Leeds residents as customers.

His first venture into the restaurant trade - named after his daughter - has already been put on hold, and Dale still won't be able to open until May as his restaurant does not have any space for outdoor seating.

He thinks that getting people back into society properly to eat out and socialise is 'needed now for everyone'.

Dale added: "The stress of not knowing has been so hard.

"I had to bite the bullet and reduce staff, the meal prep sales have reduced by 80 per cent, and I've had to put a lot more time in myself to make things work whilst also having had a lockdown baby.

Lily Prescott took over Leeds city centre's Wapentake as co-owner with friend Connor at the start of November, and the pair have never had the chance to open the restaurant, café and bar as owners.Lily Prescott took over Leeds city centre's Wapentake as co-owner with friend Connor at the start of November, and the pair have never had the chance to open the restaurant, café and bar as owners.
Lily Prescott took over Leeds city centre's Wapentake as co-owner with friend Connor at the start of November, and the pair have never had the chance to open the restaurant, café and bar as owners.
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"It's been like being on countdown, waiting for something to come and give some answers.

"I have no outdoor space, only bi-folding doors, so I won't be able to open for outdoor service in April which causes more stress.

"I don't want to be selfish and open just for my own good but the whole society is in a mental state now where everything is negative and everyone is craving being able to socialise.

"It's beyond crazy and we should be allowed to open for the vital wellbeing of our local people - everyone has lost purpose and opening is needed now."

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Dale said he could still do track and trace, and even have a restricted number of diners allowed at set sitting times to help combat the coronavirus spread if restaurants could reopen.

Giorgios Italian restaurant is another Leeds hospitality venue that can't benefit from being allowed to open earlier using outdoor seating.

The Otley Road venue has only three tables outside, so the new lockdown exit strategy will not make 'any difference' to them until May.

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Owner George Psarias said: "It's good news that there are signs of opening but it won't make any difference for us and I regret that.

"I can understand why the Prime Minister wants to take it easy but in our case we will just have to continue with takeaways until better times.

"It seems nonsensical that only restaurants with an outdoor space will be able to open and in our case that just doesn't help.

"But, I am looking forward to a good summer as I miss our customers so much.

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"It's not just about the profit but it's about getting together with our locals."

Adam Jones, founder of Tattu Restaurants, is concerned about the financial implications of not being allowed to reopen yet.

He says if he is to remain closed until May, the VAT reduction needs to be extended 'way beyond' April for it to be of any real benefit.

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Adam added: "The Chancellor must recognise that for many hospitality and tourism businesses in the UK where tier three and four restrictions have forced long periods of closure, the reduction to five per cent VAT for our sectors has been a wholly wasted concept.

"Tattu Leeds has been operational for three out of the nine months that the VAT reduction has been in place, and if we’re to remain closed until at least May this year, we need to see the VAT reduction extended way beyond April 2021 for it to be of any real benefit.

“I’m encouraged to see that the business rates holiday has been extended in Scotland for a further 12 months – we need to see the same action across the rest of the UK.

"Given the indications that the hospitality sector will be allowed to reopen as part of a phased approach with strict regulations on household mixing and social distancing; these measures will immediately reduce our capacity in Tattu Leeds by 20% and impact our ability to recoup lost revenue.

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“The Furlough Retention Bonus was a lifeline that many businesses had built into their cashflow.

"For Tattu, the cost of furlough alone is approximately £70,000 per month.

"With no way of generating revenue, the cost of forced closure has had a huge impact.

"The Chancellor needs to recognise that our sector needs a comprehensive package of targeted and proportionate support to ensure that businesses who’ve been closed for many months will be in a position to reopen when the time comes.”

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Adam's financial concerns are felt also by Lily Prescott, the new co-owner of Wapentake café, bar and restaurant in Leeds city centre.

She took over as co-owner with friend Connor at the start of November, so the pair have never had the chance to open the venue as owners.

Lily said that while "it is positive that provisional dates show a light at the end of the tunnel, it is still a long road ahead".

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She added: "It is disappointing that there has been no additional funding announced for long-suffering hospitality businesses."

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