Eager shoppers form long queues as stores, pubs and salons reopen across Shropshire
Eager shoppers formed long queues outside stores across Shropshire and the wider West Midlands as England's shops, hairdressers, pub beer gardens and pavement cafes reopened today.
The clinking of glasses could be heard as friends got to gather in beer gardens for the first time in months.
And the shutters went up at non-essential businesses bringing the High Street to life once more with staff returning to man the tills
With pubs only allowed to open to guests outdoors many have been creative with their open-air spaces.
Other pubs and restaurants are also making the most of their outdoor space.
The Townhouse in the middle of Oswestry has both its garden and its covered decking area and says it is already fully booked for next Saturday night.
A special marquee has been put up in the grounds of the Albright Hussey Manor Hotel on the edge of Shrewsbury for meals including Sunday lunches.
The hotel has also launched its new concept, Fire Kitchen, cooking and serving its food outdoors in new, copper fires.
The Armoury in Victoria Quay, Shrewsbury, has also been preparing for a busy April.
Ellesmere’s JS Hair Salon opened its doors today to delighted customers who have missed not only their hair appointments but the chats to the staff and other clients.
Owner, Pauline Parry Jones, who has run the salon for 24 years, said the salon had been Covid safe before the lockdowns.
“We are obsessed with cleanliness and sanitising and our salon is a safe place to be, physically but also emotionally.
“I have been ringing particularly our elderly clients regularly through lockdown to see how they are and to see if they need anything. I have a 94-year-old lady who usually comes in weekly who says ‘I do miss you’, when we chat.
“The salon is somewhere they can have a cup of coffee and a biscuit, see other customers, but also talk to us. They can relax here and they go out feeling good as well as looking good.”
“I have been a hairdresser for 40 years and I have loved every minute of it. Today is even more special.”
Pauline said the salon had been completely re-decorated in lockdown and had even had a new window dressing from artist Doodle Deb which includes a special selfie mirror.”
Helen Turner is the owner of Quintessential Hair & Beauty on Upper Galdeford, Ludlow, and said her personal schedule is already fully booked with clients until mid-May.
“All my team have been dying to get back to work.”
Customers at Helen’s salon will be expected to wear a mask, along with the staff, and stations will be fully sanitised between clients.
She said: “It’s the safety of not just the customers, but my staff as well that’s important.”
