Leicester lockdown to hit more than 550 hospitality businesses
Real estate adviser Altus Group says it has mapped the enforced ‘Leicester Lockdown’ zone, which includes the entire Leicester City Council area; the Oadby and Wigston Borough Council area; and parts of the Blaby District Council and Charnwood Borough Council areas.
Based on the map, a total of 239 restaurants are set to remain closed as a result of the 'local lockdown', alongside 182 pubs, 97 cafés, 26 hotels, and 14 wine bars.
The decision to extend Leicester's lockdown by two weeks was officially announced in the House of Commons last night (29 June) by the Government's Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, who said the city had "10% of all positive cases in the country over the past week".
It comes after Leicester City Council reported 944 positive tests in the two weeks to 23 June.
Speaking last night, the health secretary told the House of Commons: "We recommend to people in Leicester, stay at home as much as you can, and we recommend against all but essential travel to, from and within Leicester."
He added that the new local measures would be in place for at least two weeks, but kept under constant review.
Responding to the news, East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “For businesses within the affected areas, this news will come as a significant blow. Many were looking forward to reopening this weekend for the first time since lockdown began in March.
"Others were just getting up to speed after welcoming back staff and customers over the past fortnight.
“Government support since national lockdown was imposed has been critical in keeping many of these businesses afloat over the past few months.
"With an extended and more robust local lockdown now in place, these businesses now need additional support above and beyond what has already been made available to avoid the emergence of a two-tier recovery which leaves Leicester – and any other areas where similar restrictions might be applied in future – lagging.
“This support must be immediate, targeted and delivered in the form of grants so as not to add to already burgeoning debt levels. Where businesses have incurred cost in readying themselves for reopening, they should be compensated."
Restaurants and pubs across the rest of England will be allowed to reopen on 4 July, in line with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's announcement last week.
