Kosher food businesses have given a mixed reaction to the government’s second lockdown. 

Joe Moore, a partner at Borehamwood’s Chikchak Sushi and Noodles, stressed the "real struggle" all kosher restaurants face.

“It’s very hard running a kosher business as it is because of our increased costs and the money that has to go to the Beth Din.

“Everyone just wants to stay open because we’re hard-working people. We’re proud of the business but in terms of profit, there’s very little point,” he said.

But he said he had no plans to furlough staff or cut hours at the restaurant, which will remain open as a takeaway.

Mr Moore, who described the first lockdown as “very tough”, said he expected the second shutdown to be similarly challenging but remained hopeful restrictions will not be extended after four weeks. 

Sharon’s Bakery manager Zac Nassim said he was considering reducing opening hours and re-furloughing some staff. 

“Past three o’clock, there is absolutely nothing going on,” he said, estimating business dropped by around 60 per cent due to Covid-19.

He said the bakery could even be forced to shut down if schools close in the future. 

The small Edgware bakery was hit by school closures which saw many parents taking to home baking and joining social media baking competitions to keep children busy at home.

The phenomenon had been “really really bad for business”, Mr Nassim said. 

The shop, which normally supplies thousands of bread rolls and desserts a week to various airline companies, now produces “not even a tenth of that” amount, he added. 

But Hendon Park Cafe owner Jason Ezekiel insisted there was “no point in being upset” because “it doesn’t help."

Mr Ezekiel’s business reported an uptick in outdoor diners in the summer - the cafe’s busiest season of the year.

“Because I’ve got plenty of outdoor seating, I was busier than I was in previous summers

“Even up to today, we’ve still got a lot of people coming here and eating outdoors,” he said on Monday.

“But from Thursday onwards I’m not allowed to put tables and chairs out and be a takeaway only and that is going to affect me big time,” he added 

The cafe is set to furlough one member of staff on Thursday and operate as a takeaway only. “You’ve got to make the best out of what you’ve got and that’s what I’m doing.”

Meanwhile, Oz Sabbo, owner of falafel eatery Balady, said the second lockdown will not have a great impact on the way the restaurant has been operating.

The Israeli restaurant, which switched to offering takeaway and home deliveries months ago, will “continue functioning” much in the same way.

“Instead of hospitality, we have become like an online business,” he said. “We hope everyone will stay safe and follow the rules and we can go back to normal as soon as possible.”

Balady, which furloughed half its staff and saw sales plummet, has not been spared the effects of the pandemic. 

“But we’re not here for the money. We love hospitality. That’s why we opened our restaurant.”