Coronavirus: £700,000 restaurant closed day after opening - leaving owners devastated

Restaurateur Paul Sharma and his team had ploughed £700,000 into the two-month fit out of 2020 World Buffet on New Road in the city centre - and despite the uncertainty opened for business on Thursday evening, having recruited more than 20 staff.

Friday’s service had hardly got going when news broke of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s instructions - to help stop the spread of the disease pubs, clubs and restaurants had to close that night.

But Paul - who has the added heartache of having to close his restaurants Spalding and Stamford - has vowed to bounce back.

“We enjoyed two days of trade and were were pleased with the response we got to opening, but there was nothing we could do - we had to close like everyone else. And going by what is happening in other countries we could be closed for three or four months which is devastating.

“We started with an empty shell of a building and a budget of £500,000, but it was one thing after another and we did not want to compromise on quality, so we ended up spending £700,000.

“What the Government has said about guaranteeing 80per cent of employee salaries is important and we are talking with everyone - the landlord who we rent from and the council with regards to rates. We have to help each other and stay strong.

“But we will be back - and when we reopen things will really take off.”

Across the city centre in Cowgate, The Draper’s Arms closed just four days after reopening following its £1.4million refurbishment.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “ The Drapers Arms in Peterborough, like all other pubs, has to close in according to government restrictions.

“Chris and his team will welcome customers into the pub as soon as pubs can reopen.”

Meanwhile The College Arms on Broadway - which was set to close on Tuesday for a four-week £800,000 facelift - will see the project put on hold.

The spokesman added: “Work on The College Arms has been stopped at this time.”