A Falmouth business owner, who launched her new cafe two days before having to close it due to the coronavirus pandemic, has spoken to Nub News about the unexpected turn of events.

On 19th March, Nicki Knuckey opened the Falmouth cafe, Spice'n'Ice.

At this point, there were no regulations put in place by the government but Nicki felt it best to immediately limit the business to takeaway only.

Nicki told Nub News:

"I decided that whilst I was well and there had been no true guidelines put in place I would open for takeaway only, needless to say, it was a very quiet day indeed."

Nicki opened the same way on Friday but found it too was a majorly quiet day of trading.

"I decided again to open on Friday for takeaway only and that too was quiet.

"I did have some customers which were all more than happy to sit outside and eat hot soup and chicken burrito bowls wrapped in blankets, which I supply for sitting outside.

"I even managed to convince a local girl that came in for a crunchie milkshake to spice it up a bit by adding a fresh chilli and to her amazement, it was 'lush', so that was a lovely feeling."

Although Nicki had a few customers, it wasn't the opening any new business owner hopes for and she made the tough decision to close for safety purposes.

"By Saturday tea time I had made the decision that it would be best for everybody to close for safety purposes, it wasn't a decision I ever thought I'd have to make at a time that should have been one of total happiness and excitement.

"With a twenty-four year background of working in the NHS at Treliske hospital, I could see that whatever I could do to stop our very precious hospitals coming under even more pressure was a no brainer in the end.

"I still have many many friends and family who work in the hospital and would not want to add to their ever-growing stress and resources."

Nicki feels that the government is helping as much as they can, but Spice'n'Ice is not able to get any of the funds due to being a brand new business.

"It seems the government has tried to help as much as they can, albeit a bit late with the info being released but I do think it's fantastic for those that are concerned.

"I hope it has and will put people's minds at rest and is as much help to them as it possibly can be.

"For me personally, as I am such a new business there is no actual help that can be provided due to the fact that I cannot produce the figures to get the eighty percent cover the government has proposed."

Despite the setbacks, Nicki is hopeful for the future of the country and her business.

"Personally I'm hoping and praying that this will make us as a human race a much kinder, emphatic and understanding bunch when this is all over.

"As far as the business is concerned I have been extremely lucky with the generosity of my landlord, which in turn I hope is what will allow me to reopen when given the green light from the government which is the plan right now."

Nicki has announced that she will be supporting the key workers as much as possible when this pandemic is over.

"I will be doing a free 'hug in a mug' or soup to all NHS, emergency and supermarket staff on production of an ID badge.

"We all need to pull together to help one another and stay as safe as we possibly can be.

"One thing is for sure when I am allowed and able, I will be putting some zing back in everybody's ting."