Sunderland city centre cafe closes its doors as local lockdown restrictions slashes custom

Keyley Marshall had reopened her Coppertree Cafe in Olive Street at the end of July and had welcomed regulars back through the doors, as well as new customers, who visited as part of the successful Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

But just weeks after the August scheme ended, and businesses were getting back on their feet, Sunderland was put into local lockdown with the latest tightened restrictions making it unlawful for households to mix in any indoor setting.

The businesswoman says the latest round of restrictions has had an immediate crippling effect on the business, leading to just two take away orders a day – a far cry from the custom she’d been receiving a month before.

It means she has had to close the business for sit in custom and to temporarily let go of a chef she’d just taken on to help expand the cafe’s offering.

The Coppertree Cafe is the latest city centre business to announce its closure for the time being as a direct result of the local lockdown restrictions. Others include The Peacock, 808 Bar & Kitchen, Ttonic, Glitterball and The Point.

"August had gone really well. People felt comfortable about being out again and we had a lot of our regulars coming back, some who’d needed to shield during lockdown, as well a new customers who were coming in because of Eat Out To Help Out who said they’d definitely be coming back,” said Keyley.

She added: “But as soon as these new restrictions came in, on the Friday and Saturday we had two take away orders and a couple of people through the door, you can’t even pay a wage on that, let alone your bills. Friends can’t come in for a cup of tea and cake together now and we used to get people coming in in their work bubbles of six, but now they can’t even do that, because it’s a work bubble not a household bubble.”

Keyley, who’d opened the business with success last October, was in the process of hiring a chef so she could offer Sunday dinners and potentially open on an evening, however, she’s had to put that process on hold.

She’s now had to close the doors so that she can focus on the orders and deliveries. She said: “I think it’s really unfair for cafes to be grouped in the same category as pubs with the restrictions. People don’t socialise in a cafe in the way they do a pub, they’re not hugging their friends or losing their inhibitions because they’ve had a drink.

"We had already taken tables out for social distancing so it’s not like it was a crowded place. If the restrictions continue it’s really going to push small businesses away.”

In the meantime, Keyley is focusing on deliveries of cakes such as giant peach melbas, strawberry tarts and more, as well as pies and quiches. You can make an order by contacting Keyley direct on 07432479348.

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