Sheffield cafe owner slams 'confusing' Tier 3 rules which leaves takings 75% down

The harshest measures of the new lockdown three-tier system come into effect in South Yorkshire from Wednesday, December 2 and will force pubs, restaurants and cafes to operate a takeaway service.

Michael Caswell and his wife, Paula, who run Vittles Cafe in Broomhill have queried the new lockdown rules which allow non-essential shops to welcome back customers inside their stores but prevent hospitality businesses from doing the same.

The 56-year-old business owner, who is currently living off his savings, said operating as a takeaway and collection service will leave his takings 75% down from his usual profit.

It comes after Michael and Paula worked out it only be financially viable to open for Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week as footfall will be so low on Wednesday and Thursday under the Tier Three measures.

He said: “I feel a bit aggrieved that they are letting shops open and there is very limited monitoring and social distancing in shops.

"It's coming up to Christmas so I know they are going to be crowded and I don't want to be a Christmas grinch because I know people should be going out doing Christmas shopping and bumping up the economy.

"But if a shop can be open, I'm sure other cafes can also be open, especially with all the social distancing and hand sanitiser, all the measures that we have put in place.

"It helps us to be as safe as a shop so I feel a bit aggrieved that we are not allowed to open and not allowed to support our families."

The 56-year-old explained the business does not qualify for financial help from the government for schemes such as furlough as they are a small, limited company.

Michael is calling on the government to give the hospitality industry greater clarity by outlining when businesses in Tier Three could next be allowed to welcome back customers inside their businesses.

He added: "This is usually one of our busiest times and we might still be in Tier Three come January so it is the uncertainty of it all.

"If I could put a date on when we could open, we could work to that but at the moment, there are no dates to tell us when we can welcome back customers."

The Broomhill business owner admitted the cafe will ‘just scrape through’ in terms of survival but feared for the city’s hospitality sector which he said was struggling prior to the pandemic.

"Before covid hit, I could see places coming up to Broomhill and opening up and then shutting down again and there's been plenty of them.

"There has been some successful ones come in and they've stayed open so fingers crossed they will still be there after.

"Even though I'm a cafe, I still need other businesses and cafes and restaurants open around me.

"It's no good me being there with boarded up shops all around."

Michael urged residents to support local pubs, restaurants and cafes by buying takeaways while the city remains in Tier Three and to be sensible in shops while doing their Christmas shopping.

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In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.