Weymouth B&B cancels £2,000 worth of bookings in preparation for lockdown

A Weymouth B&B owner says he's had to cancel £2,000 worth of bookings after the Prime Minister announced on Saturday the country would be going into a second lockdown.

Boris Johnson says the measures would be aimed at preventing a "medical and moral disaster".

From Thursday 5th November here in Dorset you will have to:

Stay at home and only leave for specific reasons including: for education; for work, if you cannot work from home; for exercise outdoors, with your household or support bubble; for medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury or harm; to shop for food and essentials, to provide care for vulnerable people or as a volunteer; or to provide childcare.

Schools, education settings and essential shops will stay open

Non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues will all be closed

Pubs, bars and restaurants must close, except for takeaway and delivery services

Workplaces should stay open where people cannot work from home

The restrictions are expected to be in place for the next four weeks, until the 2nd of December.

Richard Amphlet is the owner of The Cavendale in Weymouth, he says the only way they will be able to stay afloat is if the government provide more financial support.

He said:

"Unfortunately we cancelled all of our November bookings last night, which came to just over £2,000.

"I think it will be worse than the first lockdown because businesses have found a short window in which they can try and rebuild their trade.

"I don't know as of yet what funding has been put in place but personally we won't qualify for the 80% of profits as we have only been trading for two years and made a loss this financial year.

"Our last guest to leave was on Sunday (1 November) and it does look likely that we could be closed until the new year at least."

Both Richard and his partner Sam were expecting a second lockdown but the financial and mental impact could eventually take its toll.

"We've got to try our best to keep our businesses afloat so that when we reopen we are in a position to build our businesses back up again.

"We haven't been told to specifically close but as we come under the hospitality umbrella we will be closing Thursday 5th November until December 2nd at least.

"I assume it will be the same as the first lockdown as businesses will be reopening as and when the government says it's safe to do so."