‘We’re losing £700 a day and staff can’t get to work’: Tube strike misery for London businesses

A London cafe owner has told how it was barely worth opening today due to lack of footfall, saying revenue is around 80% down.

Prasanna Callaghan estimates he will lose £600 to £700 per day this week, a massive hit while only just recovering from lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The manager of Crumpets Cafe near Buckingham Palace told Metro: ‘I’m right on the Central Line, but tourists can’t get around and the office staff can’t come to work.

‘That will have a massive impact – and my staff can’t get into work either.’

He said one employee could not arrive at all, while others who had to rely on the bus instead were up to two hours late: ‘The chef’s normal journey is an hour and a half. With the bus, it’s three to four hours, so by the time you reach here it’s time to go home, so there’s no point in coming.’

He said the cafe was was still open today, but there were ‘only two or three people walking around’ outside, mainly tourists staying locally, despite Monday normally being a busy day.

Open since 2013, he said it’s not unusual for the business to have only a small annual profit or break even, but this year, the business could even make a loss.

‘Since Covid, we are already walking on a very thin line. One day we can bear, but five or six days could push us over the edge.’

It comes after employers were hit with a rise in National Insurance in April after the Budget last year, something he said was also stretching the business.

The strikes have seen London’s transport network brought to a standstill today, with people turning up at shuttered stations, and queuing at bus stations to try and find a space on board.

Hospitals have warned patients to leave more time for their journeys, or to cancel their appointment in advance if they won’t be able to make it.

Not everyone is feeling grim about the strikes, however, with some not even noticing they were happening.

Natalie James, the manager of Dovers Flowers outside Putney’s train station on the Zone 2 border, said she had not seen a change in trade by lunchtime on Monday.

‘It would probably affect us in a good way, because if you don’t get the tube, you get the train, and we’re mainline,’ she told Metro.

‘There was no difference this morning, but we’re normally busier in the evening so I can’t tell you yet.’

The most obvious impact from the tube strikes comes during rush hour, but the lack of tubes will also affect the city’s night life.

Dee Chanelle, a co-owner of Zodiac Bar in Camden, one of north London’s only LGBTQ+ venues, said: ‘Many of our customers use the underground to visit our venue, particularly the 24-hour service over the weekend.

‘We are very disappointed about the industrial action. A resolution should be reached as soon as possible. It’s not only damaging to commuters, it’s also damaging to local businesses that will inevitably lose revenue.’

An NHS London spokesperson said: ‘We urge all patients and visitors to hospitals across London to plan their journey in advance, and to use alternative methods of transport where necessary.

‘If patients are unable to attend a scheduled appointment because of the tube strikes, they should contact the relevant service to rearrange.’

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