Hartlepool salons, pubs and hotel give their verdict on plans to lift lockdown

Hairdressers, pubs and hotels in town have welcomed the announcement of dates the Government is working towards for lifting restrictions after being closed for months.

They said the wait will be worthwhile if it avoids further damaging lockdowns – but they are calling on the Chancellor to help them in next week's budget.

The Prime Minister has announced a series of dates under his four step plan out of lockdown which is dependant on cases of Covid continuing to fall.

Non-essential retail, hairdressers, salons, gyms, museums and outdoor hospitality such as beer gardens, are due to reopen from Monday, April 12 at the earliest.

Janice Auton, of Poppys Hairdressing in Victoria Road, said: “I definitely think it’s right to go the extra mile in a controlled manner to ensure this is our final lockdown and we can move forward with our company and plans.

"We’ve got hundreds of clients sitting and waiting. People are starting to message me now.

"We will be really busy but I do believe business is in a new landscape now and we don’t know what it will look like.”

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Anna Campbell, who runs a salon in York Road, also agreed with the slightly longer wait.

She said: “Seven weeks gives us time to plan. We are looking forward to reopening. I agree with the date.

“We’ve had a lot of clients in touch because we do online booking but we have suspended that at the moment while we prioritise people who had to cancel in December.”

Anna is also supporting a national Save Our Salons campaign which is appealing to the Government to cut VAT from 20% to 5% like the hospitality sector.

"It would make a big difference,” she said.

The operators of Idols bar in Church Street and the Marine Hotel at Seaton Carew also welcomed the opening dates but have not yet decided if they will provide outdoor only service in April.

John Gate of Idols said: “We have a beer alley and tables but it is still not enough I don’t think.

"It’s good as we have got a date and route out if we can stick to it. We will definitely be reopening.

"It has been really bad. We are busy all year round but Christmas time is when we would take a lot of money.

"Then Easter is really busier normally.”

Hotels, pubs and restaurants are due to reopen indoors from Monday, May 17.

Marine Hotel owner Lee Dexter said: “We’ve got a big area outside, the question is whether it’s going to be worth opening.

"We haven’t decided yet. It’s positive we have actually got a date now. We are painting the whole outside and getting things ready for opening.”

In the last year, the hotel on The Front, has only been open for three months.

Mr Dexter urged the Government to keep VAT at 5% and also hopes Chancellor Rishi Sunak will announce a review of business rates.

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