With the announcement coming on Monday (November 23) that the second national lockdown will end at the beginning of December, Kenilworth small businesses are now looking forward to reopening, but they need the support of the local community.

The nation will return to the three-tier system that was announced at the end of October, meaning that restaurants, gyms, non-essential shops, and other hospitality venues will be able to open in some form, although some changes to the regulations have been made.

Kenilworth will have to wait until Thursday to see which tier it is placed in, having been in tier one before the lockdown.

Local businesses have welcomed Prime Minister Boris Johnson's announcement, especially ahead of the festive period.

Andy Lock, General Manager at the Virgins and Castle pub said to Nub News "We're really pleased that the PM has decided to re-open pubs, restaurants and cafes again. 

"Just as we did in the summer, we'll be opening our doors with safety measures and guidelines in place to keep our guests and team safe. 

"Christmas and the New Year is such an important trading period for business, but also an important time for everyone that lives in our community too. We're looking forward to celebrating our first Christmas in The Famous Virgins & Castle with everyone in Kenilworth."

Needless to say many local businesses will have lost a great deal of trade over the past four weeks, especially in the run up to Christmas, and will not need to offset that over the following few weeks.

Sarah Kershaw, Chair of the Kenilworth Chamber of Trade said "After December 2, many retailers will be working right through, some offering late night and Sunday shopping, right up until Christmas – so please do check their websites, social media or give them a call.

"They are all making a fabulous effort to make sure their customers can purchase those special Christmas gifts or enjoy their food, drink and hospitality. As customers we need to reciprocate and make that extra effort to shop local."

As local businesses continue to be hit hard by government restrictions, Kenilworth Chamber of Trade have launched a new social media campaign #supportlocalKenilworth to foster an online community supporting local shops.

Sarah added "That online community has grown fantastically over the last few weeks making sure that the audience reach is continually increasing, reaching and engaging hundreds more than we had previously hoped.

"Whilst we all adhere to the Government guidelines and restrictions, please do support your local businesses – Shop Local, Eat Local, Spend Local."

Whilst local businesses continue to be affected, and normal life continues to be disrupted, there are positives that have come from the adversities of 2020.

Not least, community initiatives such as the Covid-19 Support Kenilworth Group, and Kenilworth Wardens FC running to support their player's mental health during lockdown, have both shown the best of the Kenilworth community.

Mayor of Kenilworth Cllr Richard Dickson has focused on the positives for the town, saying "Just like the rest of the UK, this is obviously going to be a difficult Christmas and also a tough start to 2021 for local residents, schools, businesses and community groups.

"So far Kenilworth - with its amazing sense of community, creativity and culture - has managed to avoid some of the high levels of Covid cases seen elsewhere in Warwick District and further ahead in the Midlands. 

"I know, thanks to the support of local residents, the Covid-19 Support Kenilworth group volunteers are doing all they can to help our most vulnerable citizens and I know too that local residents will, as much as they're able, spend their Christmas money in local shops.

"It won't always be like this. We have to do all we can to make sure it's going to better."