London (AFP)

England's Lane is one of those postcard lanes in London, with its dapper shops, a short walk from Primrose Hill Park. But behind the colorful façades, businesses have experienced dark hours - and various fortunes - in the face of the pandemic.

On two blocks, you come across extinct display cases and lowered iron curtains, like those of decoration stores, spas or the pub "Le Washington".

But between two padlocked locks there are also queues, many Londoners having rediscovered the small shops in their neighborhood while it became difficult to shop in the big supermarket chains, between endless queues and shortages of certain products.

The discreet newsagent and stationery merchant benefited from an influx of new customers forced to work from home and keep their children out of school.

As for the Impressed bike shop, it's struggling to keep up with demand. "It's madness. Everyone sets off on a bicycle" inexpensive and environmentally friendly means of transport, co-owner Michael Falkowski tells AFP without looking up from the derailleur he is repairing.

The Grain bakery has turned into a mini-grocery store. Normally she also made coffee but removed tables and limited access to two customers at a time, and added shelves of food and various basic necessities.

Kristin Labrague, the director, put two cooks on partial unemployment but kept a saleswoman, admitting that it is however "a little scary for us to come by public transport", but explaining that she and the owner have decided to stay open to "feed the community".

Right across the street, the Chamomile coffee shop decided to close, saying it was the only one possible: "our decision was based on the imperative to protect our employees, our customers and the NHS", the service of British public health, says Irit Reed, co-owner with husband David.

The pale blue facade restaurant, where one usually has to patiently wait for a table for brunch, has posted a call for funds on its facade to help it survive.

"Like many other SMEs, we have suffered hard. If anyone can give to help us and our team through this difficult period we will be eternally grateful," write Irit and David Reed with the link to their kitty.

- Lack of control -

"We have worked hard all our lives and suddenly having to stop was a shock," said Irit to AFP.

In March alone, which includes only one week of containment started on March 23 in the United Kingdom, the National Bureau of Statistics (ONS) estimates the plunge in GDP at 5.8%, a historic record. The Bank of England anticipates the worst recession in at least a century or more.

Retail sales recorded a record drop of over 18% in April. Catering, clothing stores, car dealers are among the most affected.

They will welcome customers again this Monday and the government of Boris Johnson has planned to reopen all small businesses within two weeks except restaurants, pubs, bars, gyms and hairdressers who will have to wait at least July, d 'As much as many in the United Kingdom, the second most bereaved country in the world by the pandemic, believes that this reopening of the economy is premature and could cause infections to rebound.

For Irit and her husband, the hardest part now is the complete lack of control over their business. "The cafe will reopen", but she does not know how because the regulations are still unknown: how much space should be left between the tables? How many tables can she keep? So how many employees?

The Visage hair salon, also run by a couple, is experiencing the same horrors. "We received government funding and a tax deferral, and benefited from government assistance" to maintain employment, says co-owner Estella Cicek.

"Without that I don't know what we would have done," she admits. She expects "difficult" months but the fervent support of customers suddenly lacking their brushings, colors, cuts and various care reassured her: "the demand is there".

© 2020 AFP