Mayor urges people to support South Tyneside businesses as Little Haven Hotel toasts successful first week after reopening

Mayor of South Tyneside Cllr Pat Hay and Mayoress Mrs Jean Copp visited the Little Haven Hotel in South Shields on Friday, May 21 to welcome staff back to work during the venue’s first week of reopening after restrictions were eased.

Cllr Hay said: "Hospitality has suffered greatly over the past 18 months.

"This hotel is on the mouth of the Tyne, it is a prestigious hotel within our borough and it gives me pleasure to come along to welcome all of the staff back to work and to encourage them to move forward."

The pair enjoyed an afternoon tea to celebrate the reopening of the hospitality industry during their visit and called on residents to support local businesses as they reopen.

Cllr Hay said: "I think all local businesses within the borough of South Tyneside should be supported and will be supported.

"They have suffered greatly during this pandemic and it is nice to see things now slowly opening up.”

Little Haven company secretary Paula Taylor said the first week of being open again had been a success and said it was great to see customers returning again after so long.

“The first week back has been good, it has been nice and steady but we have had the busier periods,” she said.

"Clientele are coming in through the door and saying; ‘we’ve missed you, it is good to be back’ and that in turn gives an uplifting element to the team.

"The team is working very hard. It is onwards and upwards from here.”

She added: “It feels absolutely fantastic to be back open again."

Paula said the visit by the Mayor and Mayoress of South Tyneside was a great way to celebrate the hotel’s reopening.

“The event is a celebration of the first week of hospitality reopening and we extended an invitation to the Mayor of South Tyneside for afternoon tea by way of an uplifting element to the week,” she continued.

"It is now onwards and forwards as we celebrate the reopening and the restart of hospitality.”

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