A Leeds businessman who has sold jacket potatoes in the city centre for 15 years has spoken about the devastating impact of lockdown.
Mick Ainsworth has run The Hot Potato Stall on Bond Street, Leeds city centre, for more than a decade for 15 years and had to shut down for nine weeks due to strict new government measures following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
The 61-year-old has applied for Universal Credit, but says he has been unable to access a £10,000 business grant because he does not have a premise - even though he pays Leeds City Council to run his business.
This week, however, Mick has started working again with new safety measures in place, such as a perplex window to serve customers, but says that business has been slow as the city centre is a "ghost town".
On Tuesday, May 19, he sold just 19 potatoes. In order to make a profit, he needs to sell at least 50.
Despite making a loss, Mick plans to remain open from 11am to 2.15pm, Monday to Friday, to see if footfall picks up.
'It’s looking grim'
He said: “I’ve lost everything and don’t get anything. I lost all my trade for nine weeks and I’m now relying on Universal Credit, but if I start making a profit I won’t get it anymore.
“It’s looking grim.
“I’ve had to spend a few quid to put the safety measures in place.
“But I don’t think business will be the same again. Most of our customers are office workers and more people are being asked to work from home.
“A lot of people have been taking in their own food from home or getting food delivered to the office. There are no hot food outlets at the moment.
“The footfall is unbelievable. We’re going to try to keep going but we’re making a loss. Hopefully more people will come when they know we’re here. I don’t know, but we don’t have many options.”
The stall has also had to adapt to the current circumstances as the stall is not big enough to keep social distancing measures.
“When I started there were three jacket potato stands in Leeds, one finished in 2011 and then the other finished in 2012. There’s only been me for the past eight years,” he added.
