Salon owner says firms ‘on their knees and cannot take any more’ after permanently shutting branch

Terri Thompson, proprietor of beauty salon firm Capelli, was just one of a wave of business figures speaking out yesterday as the dust of the Executive’s latest announcement settled.

“Close contact” businesses like hers must shut down again for two weeks from November 27, the Executive decreed on Thursday.

It comes after they had been shut for weeks, only re-opening yesterday.

“I just can’t believe it’s actually happened. I’m at a loss for words. It just knocks the heart out of you,” she said.

The closure of her Carrickfergus salon for good means the loss of about six jobs (her Newtownabbey branch remains open).

Asked if the latest lockdown announcement was the last straw, she said: “Yeah – to be honest I’d just had enough.

“I just had to concentrate on one and that was it – I couldn’t afford to keep the other one open... it just wasn’t viable to run it anymore.”

When it comes to the Executive and its last-minute decision-making, she said: “They need to be a wee bit more organised in how they’re running this country, and stop humming and hahhing.

“People are on their knees. There’s so many restaurants and great places we have in Belfast that are going to be no more.

“We cannot take any more of this. We’ve had enough.

“I dread the January coming, because unless the government really step up, how do you survive an already very quiet month? If I can get to March, I’ll be happy.

“It’s awful. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better any time soon.”

Despite their straitened situation, her remaining salon is offering a free wig-fitting service to anyone undergoing chemotherapy.

Meanwhile Darren Gardiner, who owns the Ground Espresso Bars chain, said the last lockdown saw them throw out about £80,000-worth of stock.

“We have 25 stores open across NI today,” he said.

“Last week we had nine stores open for takeaway only. We’re probably looking at a drop in sales in excess of £5m so far this year.”

David Gough, owner of the Newton Brunch Bar in the east of Belfast, said: “Custom’s dropped dramatically, it’s at an embarrassing stage now.

“Then they tell us we’re opening today, but seven days later we have to close down again. The chopping and changing, the constant changing of rules, the lack of getting funds out is devastating.”

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