HOTELS and pubs are ready to carefully emerge from the “coma” of lockdown to help Colchester’s flagging hospitality sector survive.

With an announcement expected today on the potential reopening of the sector in early July, hotel owners are among those hoping to see a relative return to normality.

While care must be taken to keep establishments clean, and staff and visitors safe, an easing of lockdown restrictions will come as a relief to many.

The Railway Sleeper Lodge, in Bergholt Road, Colchester, has served key workers during lockdown but this hasn’t been enough to keep business at typical levels.

Martin Dunne, owner of 12 years, said: “We have probably been at a third of the capacity we normally see.

“It has picked up a little bit in the last couple of weeks, as there has been more project work going on.

“We get a lot of people working at the hospital, NHS workers, and there is always a lot of work going on on the railway line.”

He added: “We have managed to keep our heads above water, but it is anybody’s guess as to when we can reopen fully.

“I don’t believe the opinion that has been banded about a lot that people will be frightened to go out. When you see the queues outside shops, that flies in the face of there being a fear factor at play.

“I feel like we’ve been in a coma for the past few months, it has been awful, and people will gladly take the chance to carefully return to a degree of normality.

“A lot of people during lockdown have not seen friends and relatives, so hopefully we will get more visitors.”

Many hotels are putting plans in place in anticipation of a relaxation of restrictions.

The luxury Greyfriars hotel and restaurant, in High Street, Colchester, is already taking bookings.

Based on inquiries he has already taken, Liam Keating, the hotel’s general manager, is hopeful business will pick up.

“Most of the staff are on furlough, there are only about five members of staff who aren’t,” he said.

“We have been OK, we have had the help from the Government but the company has also been amazing – they have paid staff 100 per cent of their wages, so all staff have been looked after.

“We have made plans for reopening the hotel on July 15, giving us some time to prepare in any event."

Mr Keating said dozens had already placed bookings for rooms during their planned reopening week.

“Rooms are slowly picking up, having a lot of inquiries for next year regarding weddings and parties,” he said.

“If we can’t reopen both restaurants, we have extended the terrace area so it can fit up to 70 people there – where we can serve food and drink.”

Julie Young, Colchester councillor responsible for tourism, said preparations are underway to reopen the Visitor Information Centre.

Halstead Gazette:

  • Attractions - Colchester Council’s tourism boss Julie Young with council leader Mark Cory outside Colchester Castle

She added tourism is worth almost £ 400million to the Colchester borough, supporting about 7,000 jobs in attractions and hospitality.

“We know how important the tourism industry is to revenue and the economy,” she said.

She said research gathered by Colchester’s Firstsite gallery had shown a large number of people were craving a space to socially interact with people.

She added: “I think reducing the social distancing guidance to one metre will make a huge difference.”