Shopkeepers’ hopes for a pre-Christmas sales boost were devastated by the announcement of tier 4
In Bethnal Green, east London, on Saturday evening, Sumen Sumen, manager of the popular Plant Warehouse, was horrified to learn he would have to shut six days before Christmas, gesticulating to his shop full of people buying festive gifts.
“It’s absolutely disgusting, such short notice. I find it heartbreaking that we are going to have to close before Christmas. Our entire business is perishables – these plants will become as useless as yesterday’s newspaper.”
