Chris and Chris Kyriacou at Chris’s Kitchen

CAFÉS welcomed back diners at outdoor tables this week as coronavirus lockdown rules softened – but there was a warning that trade may be permanently scarred in areas such as Camden Town.

Father-and-son team, Chris and Chris Kyriacou, were happy that people were returning to Chris’s Kitchen in Royal College Street, a business run by their family since 1958.

But Chris senior said: “We have a regular who works in an office in Camden Town. On her floor alone, there were 60 people coming in each day to work. A number of them would come to see us at least once a week. Now there are four people on that floor.”

He added: “The question businesses like ours ask is: will people ever return to work in Camden Town as they did in the past – and what effect will that have on the businesses here, like ours, that are part of that system?”

The business had to close its takeaway service from Christmas until mid- February after six family members caught Covid. Last year, they had been forced to close at the start of the pandemic when they had problems with suppliers.

Chris junior said: “We had to close for eight weeks. The man who delivers our sausages and bacon told us he couldn’t deliver, as we were the only customer he had who was still working. It wasn’t worth his while.”

The family say they have been helped by grants to stay afloat, and as a well-established business with no rent to pay, were in a good position to weather the economic storm than other cafés.

Chris Kyriacou senior said: “Many were paying full rent, so the money they got in grants was going straight to a landlord.”

The Parma Café has been turned into a Pizza GoGo

The nearby Parma Café in Camden Road, which has been a landmark diner for many workers in Camden Town for 30 years, is being turned into a fast food pizza takeaway.

In Parkway, known for its cafés, Goodfare’s street tables were busy.

Founded in the 1950s, manager Billy Yavuz believes Camden businesses will have a clearer idea of what the future holds in June, when all restrictions are removed.

He said: “The loss of office staff has affected our trade, as has the drop in hospitality workers. We also have no idea when the tourists may come back, and at what levels. No one can predict yet how the impact of fewer visitors to the area will hurt places like ours.”

Billy Yavuz at Goodfare

In Queen’s Crescent, café Delichios began serving outside again.

The café is a meeting point for many in the neighbourhood, and Joyce and Martin Cluff have been regulars for decades.

During the period with takeaway only, they had settled for picking up a meal and eating it on their laps in a nearby open space with friends.

Mrs Cluff said: “We come down to the Crescent every day to pick up something.”

Martin and Joyce Cluff in Queen’s Crescent

Mr Cluff added: “We know just how hard it has been for the café, and their staff. We’ve been coming for years, and we can see how much trade has been lost along the Crescent.”