For the restaurateurs who struggle to see family, a four-week lockdown has a big 'silver lining'

Bistronomy owner and chef James Beck said he sees the lockdown as the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time with his partner and four children. Photo / Paul Taylor

A Hawke's Bay restaurant owner says a four-week shutdown of his business has a "silver lining".

Bistronomy owner and chef James Beck said while these are uncertain times for everyone across the country, for him he sees it as the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time with his partner and four children.

"When I'm working I spend most of the time between the kitchen and the restaurant and only get a couple of nights a week to spend with the kids, so with everything that is happening it is a bit of a silver lining and I'm really looking forward to spending some quality time with the family."

Beck closed everything up on Tuesday night and went out for a knees-up with his staff as they get ready to join everyone else in the nationwide four-week lockdown.

"We had a bit of wine and food that we had to get rid of so we got the crew together and finished everything off in a bit of a last celebration for a while," he said.

"It's something that we are all dealing with and just have to take in our stride and deal with whatever happens."

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Monday the alert level was going to 4 at 11.59pm today, forcing a full scale closure on non-essential businesses and people going into isolation.

She also warned that cafes, restaurants and bars that hadn't followed procedure would be forced to do so.

Beck closed everything up on Tuesday night and went out with a bit of a do for the staff as they get ready to join everyone else in the nationwide four-week lockdown. Photo / Paul Taylor

While the hospitality industry will feel a big impact, like many other businesses over the four-week closure he said that the struggle for many will come when everything works to get back to normal.

"When things do start to go back to normal there might still be travel restrictions for tourists and other restrictions," he said.

"Locals will also be feeling the pinch but businesses like ours and other stores will need that community backing."

He said that although the impact will be massive on business, the shutdown and closure of borders was necessary for the general health of New Zealanders.

But he did say that having the Government and banks willing to step up to support businesses and employees will reduce the impact on the national economy when things kick back to normal.

"It's going to be a struggle when things start to get back to normal but hopefully the economic support will help save businesses from going under when this comes to an end."