Floating restaurant owners left stranded by government coronavirus help schemes have successfully relaunched – after scooping discretionary support.
Craig and Kris Ambury run restaurants aboard the Allen Gardiner in Ipswich and the Lady Florence in Orford – but fell foul of various support schemes because their floating restaurants don’t qualify for business rates.
It meant their businesses were left stranded and they were worried for the future of the business – but after securing a discretionary grant they have managed to reopen.
MORE – Floating restaurants all at sea after failing to secure government coronavirus helpThe floating restaurants relaunched on July 18 and July 24 respectively with “bubble” dining cruises.
“In order to comply with government’s guidance on managing the risk of Covid-19 we’ve temporarily changed the way we run our cruises, taking bookings etc,” the couple explained.
“We have decided not to take two separate bookings for the same cruise as keeping 1m plus distance between two ‘bubbles’ is impossible on our boats so we are doing ‘bubble’ cruises at the moment – very exciting.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here