Asian businesses along Leicester’s famous Golden Mile are counting the cost of the extended local lockdown at what should be one of the busiest times of the year.
The area – along Belgrave Road – would traditionally be bustling with shoppers now, following on the back of what would typically have been a busy summer with families spending big on Asian weddings.
But with Leicester still tied into the first local lockdown that was imposed more than three months ago, business owners say trade is down.
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October marks the beginning of the autumn Hindu festive season starting with Navratri – usually celebrated with lots of people getting together for dance and prayer.
Diwali, which falls in mid-November, will also be quieter, impacting the usual rush of shoppers looking for new outfits and gifts ahead of their celebrations.
Karan Modha, who owns Anokhi clothes shop, said: "It's not how it used to be and it's just a different way of working.
"The problem is that we're missing out on the customers from outside of Leicester.
"People think Leicester is still in total lockdown so they're not coming – it's the out-of-towners that we're really missing.
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"I had calls from my suppliers asking about the lockdown. Everyone knows about it.
"We were known for winning the Premier League and now we're known for the lockdown."
Despite the challenges, Karan has had a few bridal bookings for not just 2021, but 2022.
He said: "People still aren't sure what they're going to be able to do but some customers are just hoping for the best."
Romil Patani who owns Patani Jewellers in Belgrave Road said the lockdown has "ruined things" for the popular retail area.
Gifting gold to the bride is a traditional custom of Indian weddings – but with wedding restrictions further reduced to 15 people, customers are delaying purchases.
He said: "When the initial lockdown happened in March it was peak time for us and all of sudden we missed out on wedding season.
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"So there wasn't much going on and then the second lockdown came and the price of gold went up significantly – that didn't help.
"The media attention Leicester was getting during the second lockdown didn't help because people didn't want to come here.
"We've had customers say they will have a small ceremony, for now, to get the wedding done and then purchase next year or whenever they can have a big wedding celebration."
Dharmesh Lakhani, owner of Leicester restaurant Bobby's has also seen a change in business, although his restaurant was given a boost by the Eat Out to Help Out scheme in August.
He said: "The scheme was well-appreciated by all restaurants I would imagine, and it also gave customers the confidence to go out again.
"Since then, sales have dropped. We have not made a loss and in these times it's all about keeping your head above water.
"We do feel for the clothing retailers. People aren't shopping for clothes because they have nothing to look forward to.
"Usually, businesses rely on Diwali as a bit of a cushion to get through the next few quiet months before the wedding season starts again."
Bobby's has reduced seating by a third and introduced disposable menus and sanitising stations – things that the owner has accepted and even welcomed as long-term changes in an effort to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.
He said: "We have just got to try to get through this tricky phase."