A HIGH STREET retailer says “time will tell” if businesses can survive the thrid national lockdown.

Hundreds of business across the city have been forced to close their doors again as the government announced another national shutdown on Monday.

The lockdown means all non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues have been forced to close, with pubs and restaurant only allowed to offer takeaway.

One vintage clothes retailer, Beyond Retro, will have been closed almost six months by the time the third lockdown ends.

Senior manager of the Brighton store in Gloucester Road, Hugo Harris, said the store has had no support.

He said: “There hasn’t been enough support to help. Although furlough has been a godsend to ensure our staff have been supported, we have had no support when it comes to rent relief in the slightest.

“Across the business, we have seen so much customer support when we were open. Having an online store has hugely helped and we hope that continues for us in the coming weeks and month ahead.

“Ony time will tell if businesses can survive the lockdown. If you keep a business closed for a year, it isn’t going to look good for any business at all.

“It is something that we have to pull through and make sure that our customers know that we are still here and present. I do believe we can pull through.”

Yesterday, Rishi Sunak announced new support aimed to help keep businesses afloat during the shutdown.

The package, totalling £4.6 billion, means businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will receive up to £9,000 in one-off grants.

It also includes £594 million for any other business that might be affected.

He said: “The new strain of the virus presents us all with a huge challenge and whilst the vaccine is being rolled out, we have needed to tighten restrictions further.

“Throughout the pandemic we’ve taken swift action to protect lives and livelihoods and today we’re announcing a further cash injection to support businesses and jobs until the Spring.

“This will help businesses to get through the months ahead – and crucially it will help sustain jobs, so workers can be ready to return when they are able to reopen.”

Sol Gilbert was forced to close his gyms in Newhaven, Brighton and Tunbridge Wells for a third time as a result of the announcement on Monday.

The martial arts coach owns a chain of gyms called Underground and was forced to adapt his business online, due to the measures.

Now he believes that digital coaching could be the way forward as gyms across the country remain closed.

He said: “Having to open and close is frustrating but to be perfectly honest with you, it is the only thing the government has to do.

I think it has got to the point now where they have to introduce strict measures.

“Of course, it is frustrating but unfortunately, we are not alone. Restaurants and nightclubs that create a social environment have probably had it worse than us.

“A prolonged lockdown is due to a fear for people’s mental health. I’ve developed Sol Gilbert ultimate training which is a virtual coaching platform.

“I’ve been working on this pre the first lockdown and I’ve always known that digital fitness is the future.

“We’ve got to shift that mindset and that is the fear. People don’t like change but if people are prepared to step into that world and give it a go, they will find there is a result at the end of it. It can be as enjoyable as going to the gym.”

The current restrictions are set to remain in place until February 15, when the government will undertake a review.

The Prime Minister said the weeks ahead “will be the hardest yet”.

He said: “I really do believe we are entering the last phase of the struggle because with every jab that goes into our arms we are tilting the odds against Covid and in favour of the British people.

“Thanks to the miracle of science, not only is the end in sight but we know exactly how we are going to get there.

“With most of the country under extreme measures, it’s clear that we need to do more together to bring this new variant under control while our vaccines are rolled out.

“In England we must therefore go into a national lockdown which is tough enough to contain this variant.”