'I pay my home rent from my business, so how will that work now?” Britain's small businesses are suffering from the coronavirus outbreak. Our reporter tracked the brutal fallout for restaurants as social distancing becomes the norm:
Royal China, one of London’s most famous Chinese restaurants, usually humming with diners in search of its authentic Cantonese cuisine, has closed its doors until May 1 “to protect the health and safety of our customers and staff.”
These may provide some relief, but business operators like Hossi, the 41-year-old owner of a small Persian restaurant in London’s Notting Hill, are coming to terms with the reality of the crisis. Located next door to Hossi’s restaurant is a family-owned dry cleaner, which has been a fixture of the neighborhood for more than a decade. Said, 34, whose uncle owns the business, said he has had to cut down opening hours by four hours a day.
While all small businesses are suffering, the impact on the restaurant industry has been particularly brutal as people try to practice social distancing. “Coronavirus has put unprecedented pressure on the U.K.’s [small and midsize enterprises]. When the cash runs out, businesses collapse. While the banks and the budget have set out important action and relief, the reality for small firms is that short-term cash flow is still the most important thing,” he added.
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