It’s cheers for beers as town starts to unlock
Pubs, hair salons and gyms open doors again
AMAJOR step towards normality was toasted this week as pubs, hair salons, nonessential retailers and gyms reopened across Macclesfield.
The latest relaxation of Covid lockdown, starting on Monday, saw outdoor hospitality allowed with both pubs and customers anxious to make the most of the opportunity.
And with sunny skies welcoming drinkers across the town and Covid infection rates falling there was cautious optimism that a corner has been turned.
Landlord of the Ivy Leaf on Ivy Road, Gavin Wolstenholme, was delighted to be back in business after spending money to make his pub suitable for outdoor use.
He said: “We were very relieved to reopen; it’s been a long time.
“We opened at noon and tables were booked up through to closing.
We estimate that we took four times what we would on a normal Monday and that was exactly what we needed.”
Non-essential stores in Macclesfield town centre welcomed their first customers of the year.
Mary Shore, who ventured into the centre, said: “I loved actually going into shops! And spending all my Xmas gift cards.” l●
AMAJOR step towards normality was toasted this week as pubs, hair salons, non-essential retailers and gyms reopened across Macclesfield.
The latest relaxation of Covid lockdown, starting on Monday, April 12, saw outdoor hospitality allowed with both pubs and customers anxious to make the most of the opportunity.
The Ivy Leaf, on Ivy Road, was among those to reopen and reported four times more trade than an average weekday.
Landlord Gavin Wolstenholme was delighted to be back in business after spending money to make his pub suitable for outdoor use.
And with sunny skies welcoming drinkers across the town and Covid infection rates falling there was cautious optimism that a corner has been turned.
Gavin, 39, said: “We were very relieved to reopen,it’s been a long time. The nature of the job is interacting with people so it was great to have the locals back and see a few new faces.
“It was very successful in terms of the number of customers and them sticking to the new rules. We opened at noon and tables were booked up through to closing. We estimate that we took four times what we would on a normal Monday and that was exactly what we needed.
“It was the first day after lockdown so we expect it to be steady in the week now and back up at the weekend. At the end of Monday I felt exhausted but very happy.”
Other pubs were also busy in their beer gardens – the Hanging Gate, in Higher Sutton, served customers for the first time in three years.
And the Church House Inn also had a busy day.
Customer Steve Leighton said: “It was absolutely fantastic and a great relief, both pubs were really well organised with the social distancing. It was great to see all the usual suspects out and about.”
Plenty of other businesses saw the benefit too. Non-essential stores in Macclesfield town centre welcomed their first customers of the year.
Mary Shore, who ventured into the centre, said: “I loved actually going into shops! And spending all my Xmas gift cards.”
Lynda Speakman, owner of arts and craft shop Crafty Corner, said: “We did a little bit of click and collect but this is so much better.
“People were desperate to get back in the shop and we have been busy. I can’t tell you the relief it is to serve people again and get the community spirit back.
“We’re limiting it to five people in at a time. Hopefully this is the start of the recovery and new things to come.”
People were also able to get a haircut and beauty treatments after months of having to make do at home. And fitness fans were able to get back in the gym.
Mandy Wong Oultram, who runs FlexFit, at Macclesfield Performance Centre, said: “Ahead on Monday there was a lot of work to be done ahead of clients returning, it was very hectic.
“It’s about 50/50, some said they would wait until they had their second vaccination before returning, some were really excited to be back. It was nice to train people face to face.”
Macclesfield Library, on Jordangate, opened for book loans, computer use and access to local history resources.
But newspapers and magazines are only available online and activities and events have not yet restarted.