Slashed takings and closure fears - how Doncaster businesses are struggling with latest covid restrictions

Pubs, shops and eating places were battling to find their feet again after the spring lockdown.

Then, with Covid 19 cases on the rise, the Government brought in new measures. Pubs were told to close at 10pm. Workers, who had been starting to drift back into the town centres at the request of ministers, were suddenly told again that if they could, they should work from home.

Now the effects of the latest changes are starting to hit the firms – and while some town centre businesses continue to thrive, others are concerned for the future.

A fixture on Printing Office Street since 1956, The Farm Shop has been feeding office workers and visitors to Doncaster town centre for well over 60 years.

But the last few months have hit hard – and the call for more working from home has been the latest blow, reckons joint owner Lynn Griffiths.

Lynn and her team, wearing masks behind the food counter, are still working, even though many in the town centre are not.

She said: “It has a massive effect on us. We serve a lot of the council workers, and some call centres. Things had started to pick up a bit before Boris Johnson made the latest announcement on working from home.

"Eat Out to Help Out had already hit us, because people were eating out instead of getting take outs from us. Then he said work from home if you can. But we serve the shop and office workers. If they’re not in town, that impacts on us.

"We would love to see some of the 2,000 or so council workers who work in town back in their offices.”

She and husband Derek estimate they are around 50 per cent down in what they would usually see in takings. She said every time the Government is expected to make an announcement, their business feels it.

"I can’t see us getting back to what it was pre-lockdown, but hope eventually we will be back to 80 or 90 per cent,” she said.

She said she would like to see more done to allow people to park easily, to encourage people to use the town centre, both at present, and in the longer term, to make Doncaster town centre more of a destination, particularly with the new £14 million museum, gallery and library set to open soon.

Just up the same street, Kaya Tahsin is seeing similar problems.

Kaya has been running Star Stitch, a clothing repairs and alterations business, for 11 years.

But with the number of people in the town centre having plunged, he is struggling to make any profit.

He points outside at a sparsely populated street. “It used to be full at 12.30pm,” he said.

“It’s not like before. The town centre is quiet. People don’t have much reason to come into town, except for food.

"People who worked in the town centre used to come in to drop things off or collect orders. Now that’s not happening.

"There were more people in town when the Government made eating half price. We need more offers like that. But it’s no use doing that, stopping it and then saying everything has to close at 10pm.

"People come to us when they have a big night out planned. Those are not happening at present.

“For us, it’s hard, but I’m not going to give up after 11 years. At the moment I’m paying the bills, and perhaps have £50 in my pocket.”

But he fears he may have to close if things are not improved in six months time.

On Silver Street, Martin Blagden has only recently re-opened Biscuit Billy’s, the pub he runs. He said he knows of at least three pubs that have stopped opening since the 10pm curfew came in.

He feels the curfew has scuppered things for pubs, and is now leading to massive queues for taxis and takeaways at closing time.

"People have been leaving the pub at 9pm just to get a taxi,” he said. “People are put off by the queues. It is the 10pm curfew that has made things unbearable. I’m running a loss, and I think it's the independents like us that are taking the worst hit. I’d urge people to use the independents, or they might return to a very different town centre when this is all over.

"The furlough scheme is ending and we get no help as wet pubs.

"I do think the Government needs to review the 10pm closing. I used to run the White Bear on Hallgate, and in the days of 11pm closing, people would have to leave and there would be a sea of people outside. That’s what it’s like now again.”

For some however, business is continuing to thrive.

Liz Myers, who runs Knit and Stitch, selling sewing, knitting and crochet supplies such as wool, on Market Place, has made difficult decisions, but is still profitable – because crafts are booming. Having previously run three shops, she now only runs her Doncaster store, having closed in York and Maltby.

She said: “People have had more time on their hands to sew and knit and crochet, so crafts have seen something of a resurgence. A lot of people have taken up knitting for the first time, and a lot of people are hand making their own face masks. Some are even trying to make a living online making things.

“We have seen a rise in mail orders. I’m working on getting a website live too. The town centre has become quieter, but those who do come in are spending, not browsing.”

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