Coventry Market bakery caught in lockdown loophole

Local, national, international and oddball news stories

Coventry Market bakery caught in lockdown loophole

Postby dutchman » Sat Nov 21, 2020 6:33 am

"Our customer numbers are down by around 70%"

Image

A popular Coventry bakery facing a massive drop in trade is not eligible for Government support because of a lockdown loophole.

Baguette Bakery, based at Coventry Market, has seen footfall plummet as non-essential businesses nearby have been forced to shut.

But as a takeaway, Matt Etheridge's business is considered essential, and so is not entitled to support if Matt shut up shop voluntarily.

With a drop in trade of around 70 per cent, he's forced to decide between remaining open with little trade, or closing and receiving no support at all.

And with others in a similar position, he said many small businesses may struggle to survive the tough conditions.

The gap in Government support, he said, highlights the difficulties faced by the small business community.

Originally from Birmingham, but now living in Rugby, Matt has run Baguette Bakery for 18 years.

Speaking to CoventryLive, Matt said: "In my opinion, this lockdown is very much not a lockdown. If you go out in Coventry the town is still busy and traffic is still busy.

"You can do your full shop at supermarkets and even buy things that aren't essential. When I walk past Poundland in the centre there are loads of people at the tills, but little businesses that have spent money on social distancing can't open?"

"I'd say on average we can serve between 15 and 30 people per day at the moment. I reckon our footfall is down by around 70%."

Matt claims that around 13 of the 170 stalls at the market have remained open throughout the second lockdown.

He added: "I just want to remind customers to support small businesses rather than large ones as many are struggling at the moment."

Baugette Bakery is located in Coventry Market near the Lower Precinct toilets. Currently, the entrance into the market this way is closed, but it can still be accessed from alternative entrances.

Image
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50286
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: Coventry Market bakery caught in lockdown loophole

Postby dutchman » Sat Nov 21, 2020 6:34 am

"You can do your full shop at supermarkets and even buy things that aren't essential."


And they're a lot more expensive too! :fuming:
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50286
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: Coventry Market bakery caught in lockdown loophole

Postby Melisandre » Sat Nov 21, 2020 12:38 pm

We have :clown: :tinfoilhat: running this country at the same time those making these rules are braking a lot worse of these rules Matt Hancock remaining in the parliament bar along with others after 10.30 even Boris mrs having a party according to Nigel Farage on you tube interview.
User avatar
Melisandre
 
Posts: 14096
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2015 8:52 am

Re: Coventry Market bakery caught in lockdown loophole

Postby dutchman » Sat Jan 23, 2021 12:11 pm

Trader calls for Coventry Market lockdown closure

Image

The owner of a bakery in Coventry Market has called for the market to be closed to save his business and allow him and other traders to access government money.

Jerone Smith, who runs Maria’s Bakery in the city centre market, says the ‘lockdown limbo’ is having a devastating effect on his long-standing business.

Jerone, or Joe as he is known to most of his customers, is one of just a small number of traders classed as essential who are still trading at Coventry Market.

Footfall has been hugely impacted at the market, which is run by Coventry City Council, as people have been advised to stay at home and non-essential retailers have been ordered to close.

But because Maria’s Bakery is a food takeaway - and therefore classed as an essential business - it means Joe must carry on, unless he decides to close voluntarily.

But by doing so, unlike non-essential retailers who have been forced to close, the business would not be eligible for any Government top-up grants.

As such Joe, aged 54, believes the market should be closed - a move which would mean he would be eligible for support, not crippled by lockdown loopholes and a lack of clarity over who can go where and do what.

“We are classed as an essential food seller and because we haven’t got a seating area we can open,” Joe said. "Businesses that have been forced to close are eligible for a £4,000 top-up grant but we won’t get that.”

Joe says he and his colleague Kia Kennedy spend a large part of the day doing very little as “absolutely nobody” is around.

He feels the city centre is a ‘dead zone’ and there is little point in them remaining open, certainly when it comes to doing enough business to survive.

Joe, who estimates takings are down by between 70 and 80%, said: “There is absolutely nobody here, the car parks are closed and the police are out in the city centre asking people why they are out.

“All the stores around us are shut. We are stood here for ten hours a day and it’s demoralising. We are getting food in and having to throw it away. We’re getting all this stuff in and having to throw the majority away.

“If we were told to close it would be different but we are forced to stay open.”

Joe feels the current message urging people to stay at home makes it particularly confusing for customers.

“A lot of our customers are elderly and feel very confused,” he said.

“This time around it is a lot worse - people don’t know what they are supposed to be doing.”

Image
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50286
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End


Return to News

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests

  • Ads