A FORMER Page three model turned head chef is hoping that the local community helps to support small local businesses like hers as they deal with the crushing effects of the pandemic.

Lu Varley, who was also the former head chef at Ramsons in Ramsbottom, opened the HideAway Italian restaurant in The Rock in February with her partner, Farhad.

The pair moved in on February 1 and planned to open at the beginning of March.

After a few days of trading, lockdown happened and when they applied for the retail grant, they were told that the cut off was being open for trade on March 11, so they were turned down.

They have reopened since restrictions were eased over the summer but are now facing financial struggles.

Lu said: “What has happened was the worst timing for us. We took out the lease on February 1 when not much was known about the virus. People were getting sick in China but then we could never have known about the extent to what has happened.

“Every time we have re-opened since the national lockdown, we have had more knockbacks and it is really affecting people’s confidence to go out. We’re going to go bankrupt before we have even properly started.”

Lu said she is even exploring possible legal action against the council, as she claims that she was open for tea and coffee in the days preceding the open-for-trade cut-off point.

Hideaway is now hoping that the local community can help it survive and thrive, or risk facing closure.

Lu, who was a glamour model in the 1980s and 90s, was featured on page three of many newspapers, including the Daily Express and Daily Mirror.

She was a well-known name during those decades, but “accidentally” fell into cooking several years ago.

She added that this isn’t unusual for former glamour models, citing old friends who have gone on to own successful businesses.

She said: “My whole ethos is authentic Italian food. I spent several months in Italy learning about all different kinds of dishes and have used that at the restaurant. It is a small menu but everything I serve is fresh and seasonal. We have brought a little bit of Italy to Bury.”

“For tiny businesses like ours- it is just me and my partner - it is very unfair for us to not get any help. As soon as there are changes in rules, people don’t go out and they stop bothering.”

Lu said within 20 minutes of one lockdown announcement earlier in the pandemic, which was announced at 4pm, three diners had cancelled, despite no imminent effect taking place. For more information on HideAway call 0161 222 8282.