Crawley shops, bars, gyms and salons prepare for closure and adapt their businesses for second lockdown

Crawley is preparing for the second lockdown, following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Saturday (October 31).
Street food market in Queens Square, Crawley cancelled. Crawley town centre very quiet due to corona virus. Pics Steve Robards SR2003201 SUS-200322-171316001Street food market in Queens Square, Crawley cancelled. Crawley town centre very quiet due to corona virus. Pics Steve Robards SR2003201 SUS-200322-171316001
Street food market in Queens Square, Crawley cancelled. Crawley town centre very quiet due to corona virus. Pics Steve Robards SR2003201 SUS-200322-171316001

Crawley, like the rest of the country, will be in lockdown from Thursday, November 5 until Wednesday, December 2, when the Government said it will look to return to a regional approach, based on the latest data.

Businesses are now looking at ways they can adapt.

Cafes, restaurants and pubs across the town are being forced to close. Many will switch back to a takeaway-only service while the restrictions are in place.

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Karen Lewis from Octopvs Bar said: “We came back after lockdown and embraced all the changes. We were a bit of a success story in a way as we brought everyone off furlough and employed four to five more people. However, we are a late night venue so the 10pm curfew really killed it for us but once again we adapted and we spent a lot of money on catering equipment and a coffee machine.

“We started opening up in the mornings and doing brunches and lunches.

“This second lockdown is a kick in the teeth but we are a family business and our staff are people not just numbers. Some of these people have lost their jobs already this year, so our focus is making sure they are alright and we are grateful for the furlough scheme.”

Hairdressers and beauty salons are one of the other industries most affected by the lockdown.

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Denise Holland, owner of Beautiful Nails and Body Salon, said: “Since the announcement was made we have been chock-a-block. We are just so busy because everyone is needing to get their appointments in quick before the lockdown.

“We have already obviously been through a difficult time and I was devastated to have to make five redundancies because furlough was coming to an end and now it has been started back up again. I am grateful it has started again because that sorts out all the staff, but unfortunately I don’t get anything.

“Some of our customers are pleased because it will save lives and save the NHS but others think it is silly because we have all the PPE and everything we need to operate safely. It is what is it and there is nothing we can do about it.”

It is difficult for salons to adapt and continue in the pandemic, but Denise says she is looking in to the possibility of doing click and collect and deliveries of beauty products.

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Like many salons across the town, Denise and her staff are currently rearranging all their clients appointments in the hope the lockdown restrictions will be lifted and they can reopen on for December 3.

A Crawley gym owner has said his members are ‘absolutely devastated’ at the prospect of weeks of further closure.

Sean Parkinson, owner of Specialist Performance Personal Training in Manor Royal, has hit out at the ‘heart-breaking’ move.

The 32-year-old said: “It felt like it did come quite suddenly. We expected it would be more of a tier change.

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“Now we have reopened we have jumped through hoops to show we’re covid safe.

“We have put so much time, so much effort into making this work.”

Sean added that the statistics show gyms are only responsible for a small number of virus cases.

He called for the Government to take into account the mental and physical health impacts of shutting gyms for weeks on end.

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Sean said his heart goes out to anyone who has been affected by coronavirus but called on the Government to take a more balanced approach.

Any events planned for the coming month will also have to be cancelled or held virtually.

St John’s Church in Crawley was planning a Remembrance Day service and posted this on it Facebook page: “The service on November 8 starts at 10.45am online. Head to www.youtube.com/c/StJohnsCrawley to watch the livestream.

“This year’s service is not open to the public, it is a closed service for a small number of veterans and cadets. We ask that you please join us online this year and do not come to the church.”