Independent shops are lifeblood of the village during Lockdown 3
Over the past few years, East Boldon has welcomed a great range of independent traders who’ve helped to further boost the village’s strong community spirit.
But how are they faring in Lockdown 3? As part of our series of spotlight features highlightinglocalhighstreetsinthe region, we visited the South Tyneside village to speak to essential retailers allowed to remain open under the current restrictions.
Blacks Corner took over a landmark junction in East Boldon in 2017, honouring the heritage of the site by naming their restaurant after the colloquialtermforthecornerofSt BedesandStationRoad.Tofurther cater for demand, in 2019 they opened a sister site deli in St John’s Terrace, allowing them to increase their range ofsmall-batchBritishproduce.
While the restaurant and wine bar remains closed for now, the deli is still open keeping locals well stocked with a greatqualityrangeoftakeaway coffees, breads, farmhouse cheeses, meats, cakes, larder supplies,winesandbeersfrom local breweries such as Vaux.
Thedelisideofthebusiness means they’ve been able to retain all 27 of their staff through theLockdownsandownerJonathanDrydensaysthepastyear has given them the chance to furtherbuildthebrandandcementitsroleinthecommunity.
In the first Lockdown, which came at short notice, they were left with fridges full of stock, but Blacks Corner launched a community outreachprogrammetodeliver food parcels.
With an initial donation from author L J Ross and further funds from North East LEP it snowballed into a £10,000 project which retained jobs and provided food for those who couldn’t leave their homes.
Hampers are still a big part of the deli’s business and, filled with all range of artisan produce, are now sent out for delivery across the country.
"The response to the deli hasreallymadeusrealisewhat thebusinessmeanstothecommunity,”saidJonathan.“We’ve reallybeenabletoidentifywhy the deli is here and the service we provide for people, from people working from home whocomeinforatakeawaycoffee, some free range eggs and a chat to a customer ordering a hamper for someone special. We are very much community led, and that community supports us.”
Moving forward, Jonathan and the team have utilised the time in Lockdown to foster more links with small-batch producers across the country and, with people feeling more passionate than ever before about supporting local,
will be launching some of their own brand products including a Blacks Corner Northern tea in collaboration with the Tregothnan estate in Cornwall.
In the village’s Front Street,
Pickings Butchers has been serving sausages, scotch eggs and more since 1870 winning numerous awards over the years, recognising their sausages as some of the best in the country.
WhilemanyofFrontStreet’s pubs and non-essential retailersremainclosed,Pickingshas remainedopenthroughoutthe lockdowns.
Butcher Stephen Auton said: “In the first lockdown a lotofpeoplewerepanicbuying and they were coming in buying hundreds of pounds worth of meat to see them through.
"This one has been slightly different as people know they can still get stuff.”