Excitement builds for barbers and gym members
MAIDENHEAD: Staff at a Maidenhead leisure centre and barber shop have expressed excitement ahead of next week’s reopening date for their industries, writes Kieran Bell.
Naveed Anjum, who runs the AK Barber salon in Queen Street, added that he is much better prepared this time compared with the end of the first lockdown.
"It has been nearly a year now, there is a lot more awareness. The last lockdown, we weren't fully ready for that, but now we are. Everything's perfect,” he said. “Our customers miss us, and we miss them. We just can't wait.”
After months of being closed, Naveed expects to have lost ‘a few customers’ due to some cutting their own hair at home.
But Naveed said that he has had ‘loads of people call’ regarding AK Barber reopening.
“It is an exciting moment. I would describe it as we have been in a prison and we have just come out,” he said.
Elsewhere, the new Braywick Leisure Centre has had a stopstart beginning to life in Maidenhead, and has not been able to open this year.
Gym manager Michelle Andrews and members of staff at the Braywick Road centre have been recalled from furlough to get ready for the big day.
Jonny Walker, marketing manager for Leisure Focus, which runs the centre, said: “It is great for members' mental health, to be able to train in the gym and exercise again. And our staff are just as excited to be back in action.”
Jonny added that the centre 'takes pride' in ensuring people's safety, and reserved a thought for other members of the industry.
“We are in a fortunate position to be able to open our doors when we know other leisure centres have had to close or are really struggling,” he said.