What was downtown Leicester like on a level 4 New Years Eve?

There were tears after Level 4 for Amanda Hall when she called 40 clients to cancel their New Years Eve appointments before locking up her salon, again, for the year.

“We were going to be busy, there were many people who wanted to look their best for tonight, even for small celebrations, he said.

“I had the staff ready and we were hoping for a good ending to 2020, but instead of having a busy room, we basically had to shut everything down again in about 12 hours, even less.”

Amanda spoke to LeicestershireLive shortly after closing her Bowling Green Street salon for who knows how long.

She said: “It has been almost impossible to run the business this year.

“We have been closed for six months and yesterday more bad news.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s decision to put the city and much of the rest of the country under stricter measures to try to prevent Covid-19 infections from spiraling out of control has meant hundreds of Leicester businesses, such as the Amanda’s, they had to close again in order. .

She said: “Some people with phone appointments asked us if we could get them one day earlier that we couldn’t.

“I had to call everyone else to cancel, but they all supported me and understood a lot.

“They said they would return as soon as they could, but when will it be?

“Nobody knows.”

Amanda’s friend Vicki Morris, by contrast, was busy at her produce stand at Leicester Market.

She said: “It’s silly for many people who have worked so hard that this is thrown at them.

“You can see how upset Amanda is.

“Everyone is hoping that next year will be a little bit better, a little more normal.

“Me? Pretty busy – A lot of people want their fruits and vegetables for a nice New Years meal.

“We are still here serving the people of the city center, as we have been all this time.”

Downtown this afternoon was a contrast and despite the change to Level 4 restrictions, some parts were still occupied.

At the Clock Tower, preachers played gospel music and handed out flyers to passersby.

Under the new rules, restaurants and cafes can remain open for takeout only.

Many of the larger chain stores selling food and other essentials – at Gallowtree Gate, Humberstone Gate and High Street – were still open.

There were no scenes one would normally expect at this time of year when the Boxing Day sales merge with the New Year’s deals and the streets are packed with bargain hunters.

But it was also very, very different from the nearly deserted streets of downtown in April and May, when the nation entered the first national lockdown.

However, a merchant described the scenes as “energetic”.

He told LeicestershireLive: “I honestly didn’t expect to see so many people today. I thought it would be much quieter.

“I don’t think there is any way that all these people are working or making essential purchases. Many of them seem to be away from home.

Up close, things looked very different.

In Churchgate and The Lanes, most of the stores are smaller freestanding stores and had their doors closed and the shutters closed. “

Paul Williams, 26, who lives downtown and went out to get milk, bread and maybe something soda in the bottom of his shopping basket to help see in 2021, said: “It’s a little sad to see .

“You look at all these places that have closed and you wonder how many of them will never come back.

“It’s right after lunch and the pubs should be packed by now.

“I don’t think any of us will miss 2020, right?”