Businesses have been fighting back in Bedford Borough: building trades, garden centres, home improvements, hairdressers and good quality restaurants offering eating-in and takeaway options are responding to customer demand.
Queues could be seen outside big brand eateries in the town centre and the Riverside development, others with terraces overlooking the water, were busy on sunny days.
The Government’s August Eat In campaign proved popular with customers by encouraging people to leave their homes and enjoy a meal, safely, in Bedford.
Salons and spas have been making huge efforts to keep clear of Covid so customers remain safe. Upon opening after the lockdown they were well booked.
But, others struggled to swim against the tide of online shopping and on-going barriers to casual town centre shopping. The good news that the Bedford Debenhams is open has helped, but cafe society has struggled to regain its former heights.
Mill Street Frescoes Coffee Shop owner Kevin Kavanagh, a long time champion of business in Bedford, has spoken up: “We need the support of the council now to help push the message that Bedford is Open for Business.
“Whilst we applaud their efforts in keeping people safe with their Covid care campaign, we do need balance.
“Businesses are bending over backwards to comply with Government guidelines, while promoting themselves and their offer, but that is not enough to combat the now widespread and embedded idea, that people should stay away from Bedford.
“We need more real incentives for people to come into town.
“Without them businesses will not survive and the town will die once the life support of Central Government grants and furlough funds are switched off.”
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