How the cost-of-living crisis and working from home is hitting Manchester's butty shops and cafes
manchestereveningnews.co.ukIt's just after 10am on Wednesday and outside the Cygnet Sandwich Bar about half a dozen builders in hi-viz vests are waiting for their butty order.
With Manchester city centre's building boom continuing apace, it's a scene that plays out most mornings. After the rush has died down Elaine Devlin, who's owned the Swan Street shop for 14 years, explains that while tradesmen have always been her bread and butter, they're now more important then ever. "Construction has saved us," she says. "A lot of office people are still working from home and it doesn’t look like they’re coming back.
There was a call centre near here, now they're all working from home. Read more: Manchester's bravest pub bounced back from shooting and arson attacks - but could be killed by perfect storm "That's 10 customers a day, every day, that we've lost.
Trade is down probably 20-30 per cent from before covid - and it's been worse than that. If it wasn't for construction I don't know where we'd be." Exact figures on the number of office staff now working from home in Manchester are hard to come by.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk
