A restaurant owner is concerned as business was nowhere near as busy as he expected when they reopened as part of the second phase of lockdown lifting. 


Rob Ely, who owns Chophouse restaurant and Toast, in Braintree opened his restaurant on Monday.

As part of the new restrictions pubs and restaurants are permitted to serve food and alcohol outdoors.

Rob said: "The coffee shop, which has been open this whole time, was fairly busy all the way through.

“But the restaurant was nowhere near as busy as I was expecting.

“Either it would appear there isn’t an appetite or people aren’t up for sitting outside in the cold. I’m hoping it’s the latter.


“We weren’t fully booked but this will give us a chance to get the wheels turning and back on track.

But Rob said there is "definitely a buzz" as restrictions were lifted. 

He added: "Monday night for the restaurant could’ve been busier.

“It is quite concerning and I’m a little bit shocked. 

“I would’ve though the phone would be ringing off the hook.

"I’m surprised that in a town of tens of thousands of people we struggled get much more than 30 in the restaurant.

“But the response and feedback from customers has been good.

"I think the last lockdown was such a length that it has turned people’s new lifestyles into a habit. 

“It is now about use breaking those habits.

“People might be used to staying in and are quite happy to shop online and watch tv rather than going out.

“It is quite scary and a bit concerning but we need to give people the confidence to head out.

“I still think it will take people time to get back to the way they we’re."