Small businesses undergoing 'worst trading period' since pandemic began

Independents are in 'turmoil' says Quids Inn owner

Small businesses on the Isle of Man are in 'turmoil' and undergoing the worst trading period since the beginning of the pandemic.

That's from owner of Douglas-based bar Quids Inn who says independent businesses have had no new advice or support from government.

Christmas is normally one of the busiest and most lucrative times of the year for hospitality venues.

However, with the ongoing and ever-evolving variants of coronavirus, Andy Saunders claims some small and independent businesses had every single booking cancelled.

The only two days where Quids Inn operated normally were Black Eye Friday and Boxing Day however a spike in cases of Covid-19 show these busy times appear to have come at a cost.

Mr Saunders says he's spoken with Treasury Minister David Ashford and is hopeful the 'dawn after the dark' is approaching: