CHEERS: Cold weather fails to stop people flocking to town for the big re-opening

Drinkers were able to toast the latest easing of lockdown restrictions with a chilly al-fresco pint as hospitality venues were able to open for punters seated outdoors.

Those desperate for hair cuts rushed to the salons and barbers after securing early appointments, and shops which have been closed for months were able to welcome customers back into their premises at last.

James Gleeson, a partner in Wilcox and Carter jewellers on Wide Bargate, said he felt genuinely emotional when he opened up on Monday.

“It’s lovely to be back. We’ve been working regularly throughout lockdown with deliveries, but it’s nice to welcome people back in the shop,” he said.

We’ve been busy. Not Christmas busy, but busy. People are enthusiastic, customers are enthusiastic to see us.”

He said looking around the town, people were in a good mood and were happy. “They just want to have a normal life again”, he said.

“I genuinely hope this is the start of the turnaround. The pandemic itself has been horrendous for everybody, but if it’s done one thing that’s positive it’s made people reassess how they shop in terms of local businesses.

“Like everyone, we are massively down, but the support that we have had, particularly when you are doing deliveries and sorting things out for special occasions, it’s been a pleasure to help people.

“I believe in the town and want it back to its best. I would go as far as to genuinely say that I felt very emotional when I came to work. I’m delighted we are back. This is a huge thing."

Michael Wood, owner of the Country Gourmet Bakehouse on Wide Bargate, said they had leased a piece of land next to the café to build an outdoor eating and drinking area.

He said the cold start hadn’t been great, but once the sun came out on Monday, people started coming in.

“We’re very upbeat, and the town seems to be busy, the car parks pretty full,” he said. “People have just been glad to get out. I’ve had customers I’ve not seen for six months, and they are just so pleased to be out.

“It’s brilliant to see people back. I’ve always been optimistic about people coming back. But its just good to see people today.”

He said he was optimistic about things going forward, and that people would have money to spend.

Rebecca Woods, manager at House of Hair hairdressers in Pump Square, said they were very happy to have their customers back.

“It’s been brilliant. Really busy, as expected. People are really happy to get back,” she said. “I think its really good that we are back open. I didn’t ever really feel we should have been closed that long. We are a very sterile environment and we practice social distancing.”

She said people had been contacting them since they had opened appointments up, and they now had a couple of months of bookings.

“People are happy to be back and getting their hair done. They’ve been contacting us as soon as we’ve got appointments open, and they don’t seem worried at all really. Our next available appointment is towards the end of May.”

Mayhem Gym on Bittern Way opened for the first time on Monday.

Owner Tom Chennery said: “It went better than expected! We’ve been super busy and people seem to be so happy to be back in a gym environment!

“We’ve had nothing but positive feedback so far. The vibe in the gym is unreal. It’s so good to be up and running after waiting for so long!

“I’m beaming with pride right now. I had a vision and I believe I’ve achieved it. The gym is exactly how I wanted it and my wife and I are on cloud 9!

He believes this is the start of the return to normality.

“The numbers seem to be dropping and the science has always pointed towards gyms being a very safe place to be. I sit here watching everyone clean down the equipment after using it which is lovely to see!

“We have met all of the COVID requirements and even gone the extra mile! We have sanitising stations dotted around the gym, floor stickers showing a designated one way system, spray bottle with disinfectant and a new micro fibre cloth for every person, masks are worn in communal areas, and we have limited capacity based on space."