Coronavirus: Tea room's appeal for support after daily takings drop to £13.50

This time of year has always provided a steady stream of customers for The Harrogate Tea Rooms, in Westminster Arcade, but the business has reported a significant downturn in takings over the past two weeks.

Owners Tony and Caroline Wilkinson have said urgent action is needed as the business finds itself in a "dismal" financial situation after earning just £13.50 in one day, last week.

"The situation at the moment is horrendous," Mr Wilson, who has lived in Harrogate for the past 10 years said.

"This is a direct cause of the coronavirus - the tourists that are usually out and about aren't out and about.

"And with our demographic mainly older people and pensioners - of course this is a real worry."

The 58-year-old added: "We've been in single figures this week. This is extremely worrying.

"We have to gear up every day - we have to bake fresh every day as if it's going to be a normal day.

"But as we're not taking money we are having to throw what we've made at the end of the day what we have baked. We are being hit two ways."

Mr Wilkinson, originally from Alwoodley, Leeds, said his tea rooms, which usually take £300 a day, would be able to survive for six weeks if foot fall didn't significantly pick up.

"We can't handle this for that long," he said.

"Our takings are hugely down but all our running costs are the same as usual.

"If it stays like this we will just have to reduce staff hours - so it is having a huge impact".

The tea rooms reported staff had changed their practices and increased precautionary efforts. Extra measures included providing hand sanitisers and removing menus and salt and pepper pots off tables.

He said: "We are taking all the guidelines, and if we were at risk we wouldn't be open.

"But we need to get some support and guidance, rather than all the rumours about what we can expect - we don't really know," he said.

"The worst thing is if anyone contracts it here - in the catering environment you have to be very careful."

Mr Wilson said although it was a positive Rishi Sunak announced an unprecedented package of measures in the Budget worth £30 billion to support traders during the coronavirus outbreak last week, it wasn't clear how he could access a £3,000 cash grant for firms entitled to small business rates relief.

"It sounded great about the introduction of the new fund but when I've been looking online about how I access this fund and there is nothing out their - that is frustrating.

He added ‘urgent action’ was needed to show visitors that there is a desire in Harrogate to keep the town open for business as safely as possible.

"We're still open and we need people to support us," he said. "Come out and support each other but take precautions."