LONG-ESTABLISHED CHINESE BUSINESSES IN CARDIFF HAVE SEEN REVENUE PLUMMET SINCE THE ONSET OF THE CORONAVIRUS, ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS OF A POPULAR TAKE-AWAY
THEY SAY REGULARS WHO USED TO ORDER 2-3 TIMES A WEEK HAVE “DISAPPEARED” – RESULTING IN LOSSES OF UP TO £3000 A WEEK
ELSEWHERE IN THE UK THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF RACIST ATTACKS ON PEOPLE OF CHINESE OR ASIAN ORIGIN.
- Friday 06th March 2020 By F Clarke. Image Copyright@ SC Cook
- Some of Cardiff’s longest running Chinese businesses have suffered a huge decline in demand since the outbreak of the Coronavirus, the owners of a well-established Chinese takeaway have told voice.wales. Andrew (pictured, above) works as a chef in the Chinese take-away near the city-centre which his father has been running for over twenty-five years.* Reports of the virus arose late last year in the city of Wuhan, China, but it has now spread to over 60 countries. “As soon as the virus outbreak came out, maybe about three or four weeks ago…we have seen that business has been tapering off,” says Andrew. “We’re probably running at about 60% capacity at the moment – if that. ”When asked about how that percentage translates financially, Andrew estimates that the business is losing in the region of 2,000 to 3,000 per week, as a result of regular customers staying away. “Phone orders [have] tapered off a lot,” he explains. “Even like you know, long term customers of ours, people who’d order twice…three times a week, they’ve completely disappeared off the radar. ”According to Andrew and his father, theirs isn’t the only business struggling. He tells us about one Cardiff restaurant he describes as one of the biggest and most popular in the city, but is wary about giving its name. He says that on an “average weekend” this restaurant turns over 80 tables a night. Last weekend, it was struggling to turn over just 20. “Hearing from other businesses as well, it seems to be affecting everybody,” Andrew tells us. “Even long-established places.”
- ‘FEAR MONGERING’ Earlier this week, Boris Johnson warned it was “highly likely” the UK will see further cases of coronavirus, announcing that the “single most important thing” people could do was wash their hands for the length of time it takes to sing happy birthday twice. Even while we’re interviewing Andrew his father is cleaning the counter and chairs with anti-bacterial wipes. “I think people just want to distance themselves. I think it’s more just self-preservation more than anything else. ”Andrew explains how a workman recently rang them up to question the cleanliness of the restaurant before coming out to fix a broken boiler. “He did come and have a look…but he seemed very on edge,” explains Andrew. “It did seem like he wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. He said he’d be returning to have another look at it…but he just disappeared off the radar.”
- “It seems like fear-mongering,” Andrew says. RACIST ATTACKS Due to the virus originating in China there has been numerous reports of racist behaviour towards Chinese or Asian people living in or visiting Western countries. Last month a Singaporean student was attacked while walking down Oxford street in London. The four men who beat him told him “we don’t want your coronavirus in our country. ”On Thursday, leading University College Union (UCU) activists from SOAS University in London released a statement condemning racism after a rise in assualts. In it, they said, “As UCU members, we give our heartfelt solidarity to Chinese and other Asian students and academics facing this escalation of racial discrimination. ”When asked if he is worried about racist attacks like this one, Andrew replies that he is “thick-skinned.” “Growing up here…and being ‘yellow’…if you want to call it that, in school I got made fun of and I’m just completely used to it at this point. ”But he suggests that the current political situation doesn’t help. “With Brexit and everything….people will be a lot more transparent these days with how they really feel about some demographics, or whatever else. ”THE FUTUREDespite it being early evening, as we talk to Andrew, not one customer walks in. The phone doesn’t ring either. “It’s becoming a lot more apparent,” he admits. “We’re barely getting anyone actually coming in here.” When we call Andrew the next night to see if things have picked up, he tells us only three customers had walked in the night before – whereas they usually get around fifteen per night. Deliveries were also down 50%, an indication that this was about more than people not wanting to make physical contact.“At the moment, we’re still keeping our heads above the water…we’re making just enough for ourselves, but we’re not really making any money at the moment,” he says.
- Andrew explains it’s hit his parents – the owners of the restaurant — hard. “I still get paid my salary [but] with my parents, you know, the spending stops – it’s essentials only. So yeah, it’s impacting their quality of life as well.”He reveals that he fears some or all of the three part-time employees who also work in the restaurant will have to be let go of if things continue on a downwards trajectory.
- He also spoke of concerns over his own job. “I’ve been seeing the struggle and thinking would it be easier if I went from here and went part-time elsewhere? “We’ve had talks…and I could just go elsewhere, you know? To find a job around here as a chef – it’s not difficult. I could probably find a job in a week if I wanted to.”But Andrew says while this would maybe save his parents money, it could make things harder for them, as there’d just be more burden on them if demand did pick up again. The future for the restaurant and many others – not just in Cardiff but around the UK- is uncertain. These are the Chinese takeaways that have been around for decades and which can be found dotted around UK towns and cities. When asked, Andrew doesn’t want to speculate on what might happen if the current situation continues. At the moment, as the number of cases rise daily – albeit slowly – fear is also likely to rise. There are currently 116 cases in the UK, and one death here. UK health officials are now moving towards the second phase of the response to the outbreak – the “delay” phase. If the outbreak continues to worsen, the government may exercise its right to close schools, restrict public transport, cancel big events and quarantine infected individuals. The day after we speak, Cardiff recorded its first official case of the Coronavirus. This brings the total in Wales to two at time of writing, both of which are linked to Northern Italy. Right now, Andrew says he has no idea whether this is a brief stint they’ll be able to overcome, or whether this is how business will be for the foreseeable future, if they have lost their regular – and predominantly western – customers.
- “This week was worse than last week, which was worse than the last week,” Andrew admits. “I don’t know what will happen. I mean, maybe they’ll come back, maybe they won’t.”*Not the interviewee’s real name.
