CORONAVIRUS has resulted in countless businesses going bust because of a drop in trade – but some hardy souls have established their own in the midst of the global pandemic.
Non-essential traders have been forced to close their doors to customers once again thanks to the third national lockdown in the space of less than 10 months.
A drop in revenue has left numerous new south Essex firms on the brink of going out of business and among those fearing for their future is Kittea Cakes Café.
Found on Southend’s Queens Road, the business is Essex’s first and only cat café.
But, having been open to customers for just nine days, co-owner Amber Nash fears she may be unable to open Kittea Cakes Café again.
She said: “My mum and I wanted to open the business for a while and thought Southend would be a great place for it, but the pandemic caused huge delays with refurbishment and also being able to obtain licences.
“We were only able to open for four days before we were forced to close for the second lockdown and then reopened for another five day before having to close again.
“We fear that we may have to close if the situation continues because we simply cannot afford to keep having to shut out customers. Although closing down is the last thing we want to do, it isn’t something we can rule out.”
Another business which opened its doors after the initial Covid-19 outbreak is the Rosey Lea Tea Room and Café on Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff.
Having welcomed customers for the first time in August, owner Ellie Yarrow - from Langdon Hills - insists there has been no support from the government in these tough times.
The 28-year-old said: “We were supposed to open our business in 2019 but there were problems with the building so it was pushed back.
“That proved costly because the first lockdown then happened and we have been closed a lot of the time. The help is not there for us. We haven’t got a year of earnings so there is no government support for businesses who have just started up.
“We could be in big trouble if we haven’t opened up again before the summer.”
Billy Reeve left his job in teaching to establish Stoked, the UK’s first vegan BBQ restaurant, in August.
Despite the difficulties which have come with lockdown, the Westcliff eatery on London Road has continued to receive income thanks to their delivery service.
Billy, 28, does not regret opening the business during the pandemic.
He said: “It’s been difficult but I’m so pleased we opened the restaurant and I don’t regret it at all.
“We were open for a bit but are now doing deliveries because of the current restrictions.
“We’re hoping we will be able to open the restaurant again sooner rather than later but it’s going as well as it could so far.”
Sonny Green and mum Tracy Browning, who have opened their Steptoe and Mum antiques and collectables shop on Southchurch Road, Southend, are hoping their business will take off in the coming months.
Sonny said: “We were overwhelmed with the support since opening. We hope 2021 will be a better year for us all.”
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