Kym’s will not reopen. After long months of hesitation, the upscale Chinese restaurant, located in the heart of the City, London, officially announced on September 25 its decision to close its doors for good.
When he left confinement in early July, he had not returned to service, waiting for the start of the school year, with the hope that the employees would return to the office. It never materialized. And when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on September 22 that he was recommending telecommuting for at least six months again, a quick return to normal became impossible. Today, its splendid decoration is covered with a thin layer of dust and its green plants are drying out.
In the nearby restaurant, open but deserted, Piers Benbow finishes a salad on his own, while tapping on his phone. “I have never seen the neighborhood so calm, explains the head hunter, specializing in investment banking. People didn’t really come back after the lockdown. I have clients in asset management who even have to ask for permission if they want to go to the office. “ He, who runs a small company of ten employees, prefers to be present on his premises several days a week, estimating “That one does nothing really well while working from home”. Yet he is the only one to be back.
“It’s a pivotal moment”
Seven months after the start of confinement, the City remains a sleepy city. The streets give the impression of Sunday morning, with a few isolated passers-by. The large glass towers reveal rows of empty computers. Only the major works continue as before, several skyscrapers being emerging, like monuments dedicated to a bygone era.
The heart of London is an exception in Europe. Only 40% of its office workers are back, compared to 86% in Ile-de-France, 68% in Madrid, 72% in Frankfurt and 80% in Milan, according to one study published September 30 by Morgan Stanley. Londoners seem to be enjoying it: 78% of office workers say they want to work at home more often in the future, a record in Europe (tied with Parisians).
Catherine McGuinness, boss of the City Corporation, believes the pandemic will mark a long-term turning point. “It’s a pivotal moment. Offices are not going to go away, but people are going to use them in different ways. “
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