Lock Down – A time for restaurants to reflect
For many of us, lockdown is a dark cloud casting a great shadow over the future of the UK. Facing a difficult decision at the hands of the coronavirus pandemic, March 23rd saw the British government halt all public gatherings and non-essential travel. Since then, the majority of the population have been confined to their homes, travelling only if and when necessary. Just three days earlier, all pubs and restaurants were ordered to close indefinitely.
Agreeably, the decision was made with the safety of the population in mind. But as we move further into lockdown, with no fixed date applied to a lift in restrictions, we are left to reflect and ruminate upon a great many things.
Recently, we’ve been considering the short and long-term effects of lockdown upon the restaurant industry.
In truth, pubs and restaurants were already feeling the effects of the pandemic before the government chose to enforce any restrictions. BBC news reported a noticeable drop in non-essential travel from mid-March, whilst the department of transport recorded a 60% drop in overall travel between February and April. For business owners across the country, namely those who rely on tourism trade, the promise of a busy summer season was quickly fading.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom under the storm clouds, however. The government were quick to introduce a new furlough scheme, which seeks to support those who have been temporarily suspended. For businesses who have signed up for the scheme, the government will pay 80% of the work-force’s wages (up to a maximum of £2300 per month) during the lockdown.
Wired reported that 2/3 of the UK’s businesses have used the scheme, with over four million workers having been furloughed. This unprecedented intervention via the scheme allowed many to breathe a sigh of relief, giving them a little more time to re-evaluate their situation and plan for the future. So, where should we begin?
To start with, it’s worth looking at how Europe have been coping with their own measures in response to the crisis. The Guardian’s article ‘Can Europe’s Restaurants Survive the Lockdown?’ offers a thorough insight into how European restaurants are managing with their respective circumstances. In countries such as France, Italy and Spain, bars and restaurants have been offered no fixed date for re-opening. This is also true of the UK, with Cabinet Minister Michael Gove stating that pubs and eateries will be some of the last businesses to re-open post-lockdown.
Despite the lack of a fixed date, plans for re-opening are still underway. Many European restaurants are working to encourage social distancing during service without severely diminishing the numbers of their customers. In Spain, Madrid’s city council were reportedly looking into reducing the capacity of restaurant interiors whilst expanding outside seating areas and installing screens to separate diners. Similar practices will be carried out in Austria, with diners being advised to book in advance to avoid queues and limit the number of covers in their restaurants.
As for maintaining trade during lockdown, many restaurateurs have turned to offering home- delivery services. This has become a favourable option for many UK pubs and restaurants, thanks to the government’s ease of regulations during the lockdown period. For 12 months, eateries no longer require planning permission to begin operating as a takeaway or delivery service. Furthermore, the Guardian reported a decline in the sales of larger chain takeaways, as more people have turned to local businesses during lockdown. Despite the difficult circumstances, it seems that independent businesses may possess an advantage over chain food outlets due to their flexibility and means of interacting with local clientele.
Making speedy transitions into the food delivery market is a great example of how independent businesses can adapt to recent demands, giving them a fighting chance in this uncertain climate. In
Eater London’s recent article, it was stated that customers in close proximity to restaurants have become the business’s top priority, due to people’s inability to travel and the sudden lack of tourism trade. Restaurants have been encouraged to develop stronger relations with local customers, allowing them to re-focus and adjust to demand. Several restaurants have taken to supplying locals with re-heatable meals, essential items and support for community organisations as a means of strengthening these bonds during lockdown. If strong relationships between restaurants, the workforce, customers and suppliers are maintained throughout, we can remain optimistic about re- emerging from the lockdown with steady support.
So, does this great cloud of uncertainty have a silver lining? We’ve managed to identify some positive angles that have motivated us throughout the first month of lockdown. For starters, business owners and chefs have been given time out of their hectic day-to-day schedules to take stock and reflect upon their situations.
This time can be used to develop new menus, concepts and ideas to give them an edge in the post-lockdown market. Furthermore, many people are turning to social media as their key means of communication. Businesses can take this time to develop their social media presence, establishing a stronger relationship with customers by offering unique services, competitions and good old fashioned chit-chat. Those businesses who have endured the hardships of lockdown will emerge with a strong sense of community spirit that will no doubt resonate with employees and customers. Altogether, the industry can benefit from this time and hope to return from lockdown well-rested, raring to go and bursting with new ideas.
For now, the dark cloud still hangs in the sky as we struggle to ascertain what the future holds for the UK. Nevertheless, there’s a rainbow after every storm and we look forward to celebrating with our customers once the sky has cleared.
Stay safe everyone from your team here at The Boathouse
