'Tough months' ahead warns Harrogate's chamber of commerce

The 'new normal' as Harrogate's hospitality sector reopens - Pictured here are staff at Marconi cafe in Harrogate wearing PPE while serving. (Picture Gerard Binks)

Harrogate's chamber of commerce is warning that the weekend's reopening in a safe fashion of the hospitality sector may have boosted the town centre but it does not mean 'tough months' do not lie ahead.

Steve Scarre, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce President, said the Saturday reopening out of lockdown for bars, cafes, restaurants and hotels needed only to be the start if Harrogate's retail sector was to recover fully.

Mr Scarre said: “Having the hospitality sector open alongside their retail colleagues is an important step in the town rebuilding its economy.

“I fear we are in for a tough few months and Saturday was quieter than many businesses were hoping for."

Although it was impossible not to notice a real buzz about part of the town centre for the first time since lockdown in the battle against Covid-19, it was also noticable that some shops had not yet reopened while others seems to have now closed permanently.

But the chamber of commerce is confident things will improve as more businesses in Harrogate town centre choose to reopen with social distancing and PPE in place.

Mr Scarre said: "While not every businesses chose to reopen on Saturday, I know more are planning to do so over the coming days and weeks, therefore giving visitors more reasons to come back into town to shop, eat and drink.

I’m confident that as restrictions are relaxed further, people will feel more confident about coming into town again.”

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