THE past year has been an extremely difficult time for our hospitality industry.
Lockdowns have forced bars, cafes and restaurants to close for months at a time, and they remain only able to offer takeaway at the moment.
But with a reopening date set out in the Government's roadmap out of lockdown, it appears brighter days are on the horizon.
Cafes, bars and restaurants will be able to reopen from May 17 for up to six people in a group, and even as early as April 12 if customers are seated outside.
Despite the difficult circumstances, some businesses have opened new ventures in Colchester during the past year.
And with many more openings on the horizon, it looks like residents are in for a treat in 2021 and beyond.
Here are some which have already opened:
Sarah's Coffee Shop
Sarah Smy took the plunge during lockdown and decided to open her new coffee shop, on the Severalls Industrial Estate.
She said: "At the start of the pandemic when we were all wondering how things were going to pan out, I took a phone call and was offered the chance to take on the shop.
“At first I thought it was a crazy idea given the world we were living in but then I thought that everything had gone a bit mad anyway so why not?
“I haven’t looked back since taking on the challenge of starting this new business.”
Sarah’s Coffee Shop is open for business on weekdays from 7.45am until 2.30pm.
Made and Found
A businesswoman used lockdown to give her shop and café an new offshoot... by setting up a vintage-themed backroom bar.
Francis Sheridan King opened Made and Found Colchester, in Scheregate Steps, last April.
The business now had a backroom bar offer a range of tipples.
Francis’ café sells coffee from Harwich and fresh cakes from bakeries across the county alongside homemade snacks.
White Label Detroit Pizza
Award-winning chef Paul Boorman expanded his White Label Detroit Pizza to his hometown of Colchester.
White Label Detroit Pizza, which Paul runs with business partner Aiden Fraser, deliver pizzas which are uncooked and oven ready for customers to cook themselves.
Paul, whose awards include Essex Chef of the Year, has run kitchens at some of the best restaurants in the area such as Wivenhoe House and Clarice House.
Here are a few which are on the way soon:
German Doner Kebab, High Street
A new kebab shop from one of the world's biggest chains is set to open in Colchester High Street after plans were approved.
SBG Essex Limited has received permission from Colchester Council to install new signage and a ventilation system on an empty unit in High Street.
The revamped shop will be home to a branch of German Doner Kebab, which has 47 restaurants across the UK and many more across Europe.
The application does not state how many new jobs would be created by the new kebab shop or when it could open unfortunately.
The Minories
Colchester residents were devastated when The Minories art gallery closed last year.
The popular tearoom, which was run by Wilkin and Sons, also closed.
But a new cafe will be reopening at the venue once it has undergone a refurbishment.
Even better, new commercial company, We Are the Minories, will run the venue and pump the profits back into the Victor Batte Lay Foundation, which owns the historic premises.
There's no firm opening date quite yet, however.
Kintsu
Colchester residents were devastated when news arrived in August one of the town's most popular and innovative restaurants would be closing for good.
Grain, which was opened by friends turned business partners Paul Wendholt and Jordan Sidwell in 2016, offered everything as a starter size so you can create your own tasting menu of as many dishes as you wish.
The concept was a massive success and Grain became one of the most celebrated eateries in Essex.
But Paul will be going it alone on a new venture, in the same premises.
Plans have been submitted to revive the building and the restaurant, to be called Kintsu, should be ready to open by May.
McDonald's
The fast food giant could be opening its fifth site in the town, if plans are approved.
Schroder UK Real Estate Fund has applied for planning permission to create a new fast food restaurant and drive-thru at the Turner Rise Retail Park, in Petrolea Close, Colchester.
The drive-thru would be located between PizzaHut and Go Outdoors, creating 65 new jobs.
But the plans have proved controversial amongst residents, with 119 people submitting objections online.
Subway and Costa
Subway and Costa are both set to join Lidl at the town's old Homebase site.
Plans are still awaiting approval, so this could be a little way off, but there will be plenty on offer at the old DIY-store site.
Unknown big-name brand
A big-name restaurant chain is set to arrive in Colchester as part of the £5.5 million revamp of the town’s old Co-op store.
Plans to turn the old East of England Co-op building on the corner of Long Wyre Street, which had been blighted by anti-social behaviour, into five new restaurants, two shops and 24 apartments were approved in 2017.
However, works have faced delays, and a new application has now been submitted in relation to a number of conditions on site.
The application reveals a “national restaurant operator” has been signed up to the scheme and has “influenced the design proposals”.
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