‘This is an absolute joke’: Small business owners react to tier 4 announcement

Cancelled appointments and rotting stock left in wake of new restrictions

Non-essential shops will be forced to close from midnight on Saturday (PA)

Small business owners have shared their dismay at the sudden implementation of tier 4  coronavirus restrictions, which mean non-essential shops will be forced to close from midnight on Saturday, just hours after new restrictions were announced.

Under tier 4 restrictions, which will cover all of London and large parts of east and southeast England, businesses including hairdressers, gyms, tattoo parlours and non-essential shops must close ahead of what would usually be one of the busiest weeks of the year.

Marissa Tyrone, from Talking Heads hair studio in Peterborough, said she was made aware of the impending restrictions when clients messaged to ask about upcoming appointments.

"This is an absolute joke," Ms Tyrone told The Independent, "24 hours notice, that is pathetic. We had a busy week next and it's all gone down the pan.

"The government need to come down to the level of ordinary people ... they're not thinking about people who have to look after their kids, have to keep their businesses going, keep their lives going in all this."

Sumen Sumen, manager of the Plant Warehouse in London, has been left with an excess of stock that will not survive until restrictions are lifted.

Mr Sumen told The Guardian: "It's absolutely disgusting, such short notice. I find it heartbreaking that we are going to have to close before Christmas.

"Our entire business is perishables – these plants will become as useless as yesterday's newspaper."

Martin McTague, vice-chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, urged the government to step up support measures for businesses in affected areas.  

“From shops to hairdressers, this would normally the one of the busiest times of the year," Mr McTague said after the new restrictions were announced.

“Many will have bought extra stock and increased staff hours, now their takings are to disappear literally overnight. 

“Whenever new restrictions have been imposed, the government has conceded that emergency support must be provided. This sudden intensification of restrictions demands an intensification of the emergency support package required, and it must be delivered now."

Mr McTague went on to urge shoppers to support small businesses online where possible.