'I won't give up on dream' vows Skegness hotelier

With just a week to go before the end of the second national lockdown due to Covid-19, Karen Shields has only a local grant to keep her going as much of the Government support is for established businesses with a trading history.

However, the single mum and former nurse who moved to Skegness with her two grown-up children - Jack, 26 and Carrie, 19 - in February after buying the Beachlands Guest House is determined not to give up on her dream.

"It's tough, especially for me who likes to pay bills immediately, but I'm stubborn and not giving up.

"The alternative now after putting everything into to buying this guest house would be to lose everything and be homeless and that would leave everyone on a mess. I'm too stubborn to let that happen."

After 12 years as an occupational specialist nurse practitioner, Karen said the work was becoming increasingly stressful because of the number of mental health clients when she made the bold decision with her children for a change of career.

"It had always been my dream to run a guest house but just not practical when the children were too young," said Karen, from Coalville, near Leicester.

"However, when my job was becoming more stressful I asked them if they like to move to Skegness and for me to run a guest house

"We'd been coming to Skegness since Jack was one, sometimes twice a year, and staying in various guest houses, so I had collated a list of things that were good and not so good about them,

"It took me two years to get a mortgage but I did it and we moved in during February, hoping to open at the end of March and then lockdown came and everything went pear-shaped.

"It's been so frustrating. Initially there were a few plumbing and electrical jobs that needed doing but we have been unable to make any more changes because we haven't had any income.

"When lockdown ended and we were finally able to open on July 4 we had a slow start, but August and Sepember were brilliant, October was quieter because of the lockdowns in other parts of the country and November has been dead, in spite of being open for essential workers.

"I found some work just before this lockdown at a card shop in town, but then that closed so I'm left with no income again.

"But we are all in the same boat because you can't pay bills when you have no income.

"It's disappointing that the Government help is flawed in that they are not helping those who need it most. The Skegness area Chamber of Trade have been brilliant with offering advice and have been in touch whenever they hear of anything that might be helpful.

"A month ago I started to think 'what is the point?' and that's not like me because I usually rise to the challenge - but I'm back in fighting mode again and I won't let this pandemic beat me."

Next year's bookings are already looking good and Karen can't wait for the day when she can welcome her guests.

She said: "I have lots of ideas for gift vouchers and special weekends. I just can't wait to get started."