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Manchester narrowly escapes 'tier three' but local businesses remain anxious about the future

Manchester - MICHELLE MCMAHON
Manchester - MICHELLE MCMAHON

Tourism and hospitality businesses in Manchester have been waiting anxiously for today’s announcement around potential further lockdown restrictions.

There was speculation that Greater Manchester would be put under the most stringent “Very High” restrictions, which would see the closure of pubs and bars.

However, for now, it is under “High” restrictions, allowing these businesses to remain open with appropriate safety measures in place.

Dean Mac, owner and founder of Manchester live music venue, One Eight Six, told me that, although today’s news is welcome: “There is a real feeling within the hospitality industry that we're not out of the woods yet and really need all the support we can get to survive.”

Ahead of the announcement, Sacha Lord, the night time economy advisor for Greater Manchester, started legal proceedings to challenge the government’s impending lockdown of hospitality and entertainment venues across the north of England, along with The Night Time Industries Association, The British Beer and Pub Association, JW Lees Brewery, Joseph Holts Brewery, Robinsons Brewery, New River Pub Company, Hawthorn Leisure, and operators across Greater Manchester.

And, while closures haven’t been announced for now, Sacha says: “This could change though, so we will continue our legal challenge ready, in the event that it does. We will not support any closure without scientific evidence.”

Sacha is also worried about the impact further restrictions could have, not only financially, but on the mental health of Manchester’s hospitality business owners, who are already struggling.

“My DMs on Twitter are open and the messages that have been coming through in the recent weeks have been heartbreaking. It’s not just about finance, it’s about mental health.”

This is something that Jennifer Hughes, brand partner at the city centre Peruvian-inspired restaurant, Peru Perdu, agrees with. She told me: “Every announcement reduces the consumer’s confidence in the industry causing a huge increase of cancellations soon after and greatly affecting our ability to stay open – all without a suitable safety net from the government. Hospitality goes hand in hand with mental health – providing a safe hub for people to meet, eat, laugh and generally be social. By restricting social access, the damage is unprecedented.”

Peru Perdu
Peru Perdu

It’s not just restaurants and bars who have been impacted by existing restrictions in Manchester, either, and who will be impacted by any further measures that may come in at a later date.

Tour guide Rob Kelly, who runs Scranchester, food-based tours of Manchester, has seen the impact of current restrictions both on his tour business, and on the restaurants he visits as part of his tours. He can only see this getting worse if further restrictions are brought in: “Four of the businesses I visited as part of the tour are either yet to re-open or permanently closed. I am sure there will be many more independent restaurants that are going to find their business is just no longer viable over the coming months.”

Three-tier Covid lockdown map
Three-tier Covid lockdown map

Before lockdown measures were put in place, Rob was running up to five tours a week during the summer. But, after opening his tours up again, he’s been impacted by the restrictions that were put in place in late July around households in Greater Manchester mixing indoors.

Rob says: “I have only been able to offer tours for individual households which has resulted in me needing to deliver around five tours to receive the income I would have had from one previously, as most tours have been for just two people.

“People don't realise just how big a part of the Greater Manchester economy tourism is and overnight the sector has collapsed. I am now at the point where I need to find alternative employment.”

Fellow tour guide Hayley Flynn, who runs alternative walking tours with Skyliner, also worried that further restrictions could have an impact on her business:

“Whilst I'm somewhat lucky in that Manchester walking tours are a really popular activity amongst Mancunians themselves, the lack of tourism is still a huge blow – private group bookings for tourists and business away days are non-existent, with my last booking being in February. Public tours, whilst not actually affected by the rules of six or other restrictions, are still reflecting a cautious attitude by customers or uncertainty at least, and numbers are down massively.”

Skyliner
Skyliner

Manchester attractions and hospitality venues have worked hard to put a number of measures in place to make them safe environments and Manchester’s indoor snow centre, Chill Factore, is keen to stress that its number one priority is to protect guests and staff at the moment.

Morwenna Angove, Chief Executive Officer at Chill Factore, said: “We, like many Manchester-based attractions and hospitality venues, are relieved that today’s announcement indicating that Manchester is being classed as tier two within the three-tier local lockdown system means we can remain open. [...]

"We have adapted to allow for social distancing and introduced some important safety guidelines and restrictions which are clearly listed on our website."

It remains to be seen whether the work that Manchester's attractions and restaurants have put into staying safe and open will last into the winter months, or whether they will be forced to close again.