In the northern English seaside resort of Blackpool, the family-run Elgin Hotel is preparing to reopen in August after four months’ enforced closure.
The Elgin had a profitable 2019, but bookings so far suggest that the 89-room hotel yards from the seafront will be less than half full this summer, as coronavirus concerns deter older holidaymakers and social distancing reduces capacity.
To help cover lost revenue, the hotel tried to secure an 800,000 pound loan under the UK’s taxpayer-backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).