大象传媒

John Davenport is the owner of the Beachside at Bowleaze Coveway. Weymouth.

The leisure complex business that includes a restaurant, bar and gift shop has been trading in the family for more than half a century. But coronavirus restrictions forced John to temporarily close in March 2020, just after a costly refurbishment was completed, in order to protect his staff and customers.

A recent Covid-19 impact survey revealed eighty per cent of small and medium-sized Dorset businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector have taken a similar course of action action - sixty have closed permanently.

The Beachside business rates have been waived but that's been the only financial support. The Government's Covid-19 Business Interruption Loan has not completed and the business is not eligible for a grant.

John told 大象传媒 Radio Solent reporter Laurence Herdman that the future looks bleak.