An Ascot marquee firm is being forced to stay open by the government — despite having no work due to the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.
Social distancing measures are taking their toll on Marquees Direct, which has been based in Ascot since 1999.
The closure of Royal Ascot to the public means the company has seen several of its clients' bookings cancelled.
READ MORE: Five of the best beer gardens to visit once lockdown is over
The firm has a “really close relationship” with Ascot Racecourse, provides marquees for Macdonald Berystede Hotel and works with Ascot’s big-name bars and restaurants, too.
Rebekah Robinson, Project Director at Marquee Direct, told the News: “We’re actually very positive people so we’ve been trying to look at other ways to do stuff.
“How is the hospitality industry going to survive? You’re talking about wiping out an entire industry.
“No one has money in the winter, you get all your income in the summer. Winter’s hard to get through.
READ MORE: The Ascot church that will lose around £10,000 through Royal Ascot's cancellation
Rebekah told the News she was unhappy with the lack of support from the government and from Barclays bank as businesses like hers are required to project their takings for a year in advance before being able to secure a loan.
She said: "The government has said they are here to help the hospitality industry, but the banks are not lending companies like ours money."
Ironically, Marquees Direct is still open — the events firm is on the ‘first reply’ list for police, hospitals and the government, meaning the authorities can ask the company to use its tents should they be needed.
Rebekah added: “We’re not allowed to shut down but we don’t have any work. What do we do?
“It’s a horrendous situation.”
But her company is not the only one she is worried about.
Rebekah also expressed concerns for the other Ascot-based businesses — and the employees they hire, too — as they are set to suffer following Royal Ascot’s cancellation.
She continued: “All the young people around here work at Royal Ascot and we employ a lot of local people who we are now not going to be able to employ.
“We are so intermingled around here.
READ MORE: New fundraising appeal for Ascot hospital
“We all give each other work and see each other through the difficult times and now we don’t know where we go from here.
“How does the area survive?”
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