A MAN is adapting his popular late-night business — after government Covid rules meant he had to close at the exact same time he usually opens.
Ken Knowles runs Bitesize in St James' Square in Newport, and usually opens the doors to the tiny takeaway at 10pm.
He serves burgers, hot dogs and cheesy chips to a night-time trade — people leaving the pubs or finishing a late work shift — and works through to the early hours.
But now, Covid regulations meant he had to close at 10pm, unless he started up a delivery service.
Not one to be defeated, he has done his best to adapt.
He is now opening at 6pm, and is offering deliveries or click-and-collect from cars, until midnight.
He said: "My business is in a bit of a unique situation as I usually open at 10pm and have a 24-hour licence.
"I used to sell donuts during the day but I built up such a good night-time trade, over the past four or five years I have just sold at night. At 3am I can have queues of 30 to 40 hungry people.
"After lockdown I got up and running again and was doing quite well, but the new 10pm rule is doing me in.
"I have signed with Uber to offer deliveries or people can call me direct, or they can collect from their vehicle, as long as they don't get out and I take it to them — there are a few grey areas.
"I am too small to have seating options and people aren't even allowed to buy from me and sit on a nearby bench.
"It is not economically viable for me to sell during the day, so I have built up a cult following and I hope people stick with me.
"There is no minimum order, and I have no staff, it is just me, so please support me."
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