'Please, please let us open our doors' – Burnley restaurant owner hits out at Tier 3 restrictions in impassioned plea

A Burnley restaurant owner does not know how much longer he can carry on for after the hospitality sector found itself shackled once again by Covid restrictions.
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Ibby Ali, who runs Usha restaurant in Rossendale Road, said a nightmare year had left his business bank account dry, staff morale shattered, and the future of his 19-year-old pride and joy restaurant on the brink.

Under this tougher Tier 3, pubs and restaurants will remain closed, except for takeaway/delivery, ahead of a scheduled review on December 16th.

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Ibby said it was difficult to understand why the much-maligned sector was being "punished", especially given all the energy exerted earlier in the year making premises Covid-secure.

Usha owner Ibby Ali with his son, Adnan.Usha owner Ibby Ali with his son, Adnan.
Usha owner Ibby Ali with his son, Adnan.

"What can we say? We are so disappointed. I thought there was a good chance we were going to be able to open up on December 2nd. We've even decorated the entire restaurant, ready for Christmas. This is our busiest period, it's what we wait all year for. Our Christmas party bookings start at the end of November, and run thorough December.

"I am fully aware of the dangers of Covid, and I don't wish to downplay it in the slightest But people need to start living their lives. We are stopping people from doing all the happy things in life. It can't continue in this way.

"We have taken full precautions at the restaurant. We are just as save as any gym, or retail shop, or supermarket.

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"Why did we spend all that money months ago buying temperature readers, hand sanitisers, stickers for the floor? We brought in track and trace, made sure all our tables were spaced apart properly. I went into a supermarket the other day, and the hand sanitiser pump on the way in was empty.

Usha in Rossendale Road, Burnley.Usha in Rossendale Road, Burnley.
Usha in Rossendale Road, Burnley.

"It just doesn't feel fair. I don't know why we are being made to feel like culprits."

Ibby said that while the Eat Out to Help Out scheme in August helped at the time, he now wishes it had not gone ahead if it had meant the restaurant could have remained open for the rest of the year.

"At the time, we thought the 'Rule of 6' was bad. That would be heaven for us now. We made no profit during that period, we just about met our overheads. But at least we were open.

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"I've no idea how long we can carry on like this. Even if they let us open on December 16th, that would just cause us a massive headache. People will be rushing to get out, and we'll be trying to fit four/five weeks' worth of bookings into two weeks.

"How do you keep your staff on board, especially the part time staff who we need so much at busy times? What do you do about getting hold of stock?

"That being said, we are just desperate to open. Even if it was just two days a week, or with an even more reduced capacity; we would do whatever we could to open."

Usha's takeaway has been operating during the second lockdown, but with it only making up around 15% of the business, Ibby said it was in no way sustainable.

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"On Monday we had 15 orders, but eight people working. It just doesn't add up, financially. The Government support is all over the place as well. We're filling out the forms, but we don't know what we're getting until it arrives. And even then it's delayed.

"I really don't think it has been managed well at all. The whole situation is just horrible. And all this stop and start, it's killing our industry. Please, please let us open our doors."