For even the most popular restaurants in our region, a second national lockdown in the space of a year means that venues are facing their greatest struggles in living memory.

In the case of Alexandros Greek Restaurant & Deli situated on Warwick Road in Carlisle, it is clear that the problems currently facing owner Aris Pathanoglou as a result of the impact of loss of trade and a lack of Government support with rents is endemic of an industry that is struggling to adapt.

“It has been a very difficult period. After the first lockdown we decided to put up screens in our restaurant to keep our customers socially distanced and invested a lot in that to keep the business up and running. However, with the new lockdown it feels like all that work and expense has been halted,” Mr Pathanoglou states.

He feels that, although lockdown was necessary, more notice and, crucially, more targeted policy, which would ensure the future of the industry, has been lacking from the Government during the Covid-19 crisis.

“Of course, we needed to lockdown but what I do wish is that we would have been given more notice. As was the case during the first lockdown, we have lots of stock that has already been bought, much of it from Greece that is now in danger of going to waste,” he asserts.

Mr Pathanoglou admits this is the toughest period in the restaurant’s 20 year history so far.

He said: “We have been running since September 2000 and this is our most difficult period.

“The last recession in 2008 was a tough period and the two floods in Carlisle since we opened were tough but the Covid crisis has been the hardest period. Takeaways may not be enough for us to survive.

“We’re hoping for now that we can keep going until March in the current climate.

“I’m hoping as we have a lot of regulars that if we do takeaways for two or three days a week it could make a big difference for us. We did this for the first lockdown and it worked well so we shall see how it goes this time around.”

He is is now hoping that the Government listen to the concerns of restaurant owners such as himself.

He said: “I’m still hoping for more help for the business from the Government. Reducing rent or helping towards that would be a big step towards this.”

One cannot fault the courage of this business during this period but it is clear that, without further support, difficulty may lie ahead.