Wigan cafe desperately trying to bring in customers during lockdown

The Red Pepper Cafe at the Wigan Investment Centre is currently only doing about a third of its pre-lockdown trade.
Rachel Worthington and Amanda Gore from Red Pepper CafeRachel Worthington and Amanda Gore from Red Pepper Cafe
Rachel Worthington and Amanda Gore from Red Pepper Cafe

Many of the employees of firms based at the canalside location are still working from home rather than heading in to the office.

Business owner Pat Brown, who has had the cafe for around eight years, has cut the opening hours and put some of her staff on furlough.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Red Pepper Cafe has even resorted to distributing leaflets in the surrounding area to encourage residents to come through the doors and pick up hot drinks or lunches.

The logo for our Support Wigan campaignThe logo for our Support Wigan campaign
The logo for our Support Wigan campaign

But Pat admits she is worried for the venue’s future and is crossing her fingers that some of the businesses based at the Wigan Investment Centre can beginning bringing staff back soon.

She said: “We’re relying on the office workers who are in on staggered times and local people who live round about coming in.

“The girls went round canvassing last week, taking our menus out. We’ve had a few other people in.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’m just hoping to keep going for a couple of weeks and see where we are then. When lockdown ends we will have to see if people move back into the offices.

“I’ve been in businesses for 40 years and I’ve never known a challenge like this. I’m lucky because I haven’t got a mortgage but the girls have got rent payments or mortgages and it’s just devastating.”

The cafe is open five days a week between 10.30am and 2pm. To find out more visit www.facebook.com/redpeppercafe

*How is your business dealing with lockdown two? Email us at [email protected] or visit our Facebook page for a full list of local initiatives.

Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here and viewing our offers.

Related topics: