Starting a new business is a challenge at the best of times but running a new business during the coronavirus pandemic is another challenge entirely. A challenge faced head on by Gail Smee and Shane Hudson of The Courtyard in Sidmouth.

Nub News caught up with Gail this week to look back on The Courtyard's first year in business and the challenges of operating under lock down.

How long have you been running The Courtyard and why did you decide to take it on?

"Myself and my partner Shane Hudson took over what was Baraza and renamed it The Courtyard in late July 2019. I had previously been the manager of The Chattery and Shane the Fort Cafe.

"Previous to that we managed The Old Ship Inn before it was sold and became a Costa Coffee, so with that experience we decided we wanted to put all the effort in for ourselves."

How would you describe your year running The Courtyard?

"The past twelve months of owning The Courtyard has, for the most part, been exceptional. We had built up a wonderful regular customer base, especially for breakfasts and our Sunday roasts, we had also proven popular with vegans as we provide them with their own menu. We didn't think that eight months into operation we would have to shut.

How has the Covid-19 outbreak impacted your business?

"The run up to lock down was turbulent, we didn't know when the announcement was coming that we would have to shut, or what help we would get, if any. With the Covid-19 R rate increasing drastically we made the decision to shut the restaurant on March 23 before the announcement was made, for the safety of our staff and customers."

What was it like for you during lock down? We understand you delivered food to vulnerable customers throughout.

"On that Friday we then decided we would do deliveries of meals, starting the next day, prioritising the elderly customers that had regularly frequented the restaurant. We had to change the whole set up of how we operated. We are still delivering to them today as some of them are still cautious about coming out."

Do you think the Government and local authorities have done enough to support your business and businesses like yours?

"The announcement of the grant and exclusion of business rates came as a relief as we didn't know how well the deliveries would go, and whether we would still be able to pay our rent or bills. They proved popular however, and we now have new customers that hadn't even been into The Courtyard before lock down, and have received numerous thank you cards and letters for looking after them."

How are you finding reopening? Are customers adhering to the social distancing and face covering rules?

"We delayed re-opening the restaurant for a few weeks after the hospitality industry was allowed to re-open, instead deciding to re-open on Friday, July 24, exactly one year after we took over. This was to make sure everything was up to the social distancing and opening guidelines, as we are aware we a smaller than some other premises. Feedback from the customers has been reassuring and we are doing everything we can to make them feel safe and we get the impression that they are still taking Covid 19 seriously.

"The eat out to help out scheme has proven popular with us and I hope it still will through out the rest of August to help the hospitality trade in Sidmouth and the rest of the country."

Is there anything you would like to say to your customers and the people of Sidmouth?

"Shane and I would like to say a huge thank you to all our customers that have supported us in our first year, and of course to our great team of staff who have worked tirelessly hard to make The Courtyard what it is, we couldn't have done it without them."

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