West Tamar-based Strait Brands' founder Philip Ridyard flew to the UK on March 12 after the death of his 82-year-old mother.

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He was due to return to Tasmania on March 19 but the coronavirus pandemic led to the delay and eventual cancellation of return flights.

A nationwide lockdown in the UK meant Mr Ridyard had to leave the pub he was staying at and self-isolate at a small town in North Wales

"I'm actually staying at my mum's home because I was starting to sort out her affairs and obviously trying to clear part of the house," he said.

"Now we're in situation where I can't even take stuff to the tip because we're basically isolated and banned from going anywhere, other than for food, medical supplies, visit to the doctor or one moment of exercise during the day."

The situation in the UK, as Mr Ridyard describes it, appears to be bleak.

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After he went to get a script from a local doctor, two pharmacies had none of the required medication in stock and told him to come back another day.

When he first got stuck, he had limited internet access and struggled to maintain contact with Tasmanian-based staff and customers.

"I had to travel into the town to try and borrow Wi-Fi from various pubs and restaurants that had closed," Mr Ridyard said.

"I stood on the window ledge outside a pub in the town square at 2.30am communicating with Tasmania."

In recent days, Mr Ridyard got access to a satellite internet connection and he remains optimistic despite the situation he's in.

"I saw my niece two days after I arrived. I've not seen anybody since.

"I'm pretty stoic, just like my mum. This is nothing compared to day-to-day life. When you're running your own business the pressure can be quite intolerable but I've just got a permanent smile on my face at the moment."

Mr Ridyard said he always approached life in this way.

"I always take everything as it comes and if I see something as a challenge I try to overcome it," he said.

"Because we're [Strait Brands] on the cusp of serious international expansion this gives me some quality time to work on that."

There is no place like home though, and Mr Ridyard says he wants to return as possible.

"I'm hoping that Singapore will open up as a hub and then I'll actually be able to get back to Australia at some point," he said.

"Then I've got the two weeks quarantine in Melbourne and two weeks when I get back to Tasmania."