For weeks Leicester was portrayed as the city that failed to beat the virus.
At the start of July shops, bars, pubs and restaurants were told to stay shut in a bid to bring down a local spike in Covid-19 cases.
The central government decision was devastating for people who had already reopened their stores or invested in getting their premises ready for the first cautious customers.
Non-essential shops were finally allowed to open a few weeks ago, and finally 鈥 despite some local restrictions still in place 鈥 hairdressers, pubs and restaurants can follow.
Has it been worth the wait and how long exactly will it take for earnings to cover the cost of expenses? Will 2020 be a write-off, and can the local economy really sustain that, even with the Government support?
More to the point, can it last or will more restrictions come in again as the country continues its battle against the disease?
Many of the city鈥檚 venues look very different to when they were forced to close nearly five months ago.
One-way systems have been marked out, with pub tables and chairs spread out for social distancing. Extra work has gone into preparing more outdoor areas.
Protective screens have been put in place over bars and counters, and some have introduced apps for customers to make orders and pay.
Not all city pubs have re-opened yet 鈥 with Firebug in Millstone Lane and Revolution remained boarded-up earlier this week.
Others have taken the opportunity to refurbish their premises during the enforced closure.
Wysgton鈥檚 House, in Jubilee Square, plans to re-open at 11am on Wednesday, August 5.
Owner Geoff Thornton said: 鈥淲e still have a few things to sort out but we are getting re-stocked.
鈥淲e have been shut for so long a couple more days won鈥檛 make much difference.鈥
Mr Thornton said he was hoping to get permission to have tables for 50 to 60 people on the grassed area of the square just outside the medieval building that his pub is in.
He said: 鈥淥ur capacity鈥檚 down inside but we hope we can make it up outside.鈥
Kevin Shepherdson, landlord of the Old Horse in London Road, next to the city鈥檚 pretty Victoria Park recently revealed he had had to throw away 800 pints of beer at the start of the initial 海角视频-wide lockdown and, again, at the start of the local lockdown.
In all he estimated he suffered 拢450,000 in lost trade over the months 鈥 money which would have been boosted by a huge midsummer Kasabian concert and the annual Caribbean Carnival in Victoria Park which, for obvious reasons, were called off.
He finally re-opened on Monday, telling LeicestershireLive said: 鈥淚鈥檓 serious when I say that the tills have been shut for so long that we had to put WD-40 on them because they were sticking.
鈥淲e have had to do all sorts of preparation including removing nine tables to make space.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been hard work but we are really, really pleased to be open again.
鈥淥f course on a Monday lunchtime everything has gone very smoothly but we know we might have some more challenges on Friday night.
鈥淣ormally every landlord wants to see his pub packed but we are in the very strange situation that we don鈥檛 want to see that just yet.鈥
He said that normally 350 people could fit in at a time but restrictions on standing and social spacing requirements meant capacity was down to about 200.
He has spent some 拢4,000 on getting the pub ready to reopen.
He said: 鈥淚t used to be a simple thing coming to the pub. You鈥檇 walk up to the bar get your beer, sit down and drink it but now there are so many signs up telling people what they need to do you feel like you鈥檝e read War and Peace before you get your first drink.
鈥淚 think people will get used to the new normal pretty quickly though.鈥
Mo Barber and Mark Wickwar have re-opened The Men鈥檚 Room barbers in King Street, popular with people working in the area 鈥 many of whom are still based at home.
Mo said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 been tough and it鈥檚 a waiting game now to see how quickly things start to pick up.
鈥淲e are getting some bookings.
鈥淲e have had the council round to check we are okay to go 鈥 with social distancing and hand sanitizers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to be back but I would say some time away from work has also been good for my family.鈥
Miguel de Ameida, who has run Almeida鈥檚 coffee shop in Guildhall Lane for 21 years, said he was also pleased to open again but warned 2020 was a write-off.
He said: 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 just flick a switch and have things go back to how they are.
鈥淲e have basically had zero income since March 鈥 though we have had the same support everyone else has from the Government but we have had a one month extension to our lockdown.
鈥淲e are going to try to rebuild from here but I can see it being Spring before we get back to where we were.
鈥淲hat I hope will happen is that landlords will be patient - that they see it is going to take time to build up trade again and that they adjust their expectations.
鈥淎 lot of places won鈥檛 re-open again and there will not be a rush of people looking to take them on so hopefully landlords will be sensible and realise it is better to have less than nothing.
鈥淵ou look around and still see how quiet it is.
鈥淚 think we鈥檒l be lucky to take 20 per cent of what we would normally this month.鈥
He said he hoped there would be extra support from the Government for city businesses to recognise the extra pressures they have faced compared to the rest of the country.
The Department of Health and Social Care has said a further 拢2.6 million will be made available to city businesses but it has not been made clear how that will be administered.
Leicester City Council has 拢10 million of an initial 拢85 million allocated by Whitehall to support city businesses in its bank account but will have to return it to the Treasury unless it is granted permission.
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has said he will continue to press the Government to release it.
He said he was pleased to see more businesses opening for the first time in months.
He said: 鈥淚t has been a very challenging time for the hospitality sector in Leicester which has had to endure a month longer of lockdown than anywhere else.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it was ever expected that every place would immediately fling its doors open but I think we will see a gradual re-opening of businesses as people regain the confidence to come back to the city centre.鈥
