THERE is a buzz around town as Bridport businesses prepare to reopen next week following three months of closure. From this Monday, April 12, non-essential shops will be reopening, pubs and restaurants will be able to serve customers outside, residents are able to go for that much-needed haircut, and gyms and leisure centres will also reopen. All of these industries have been forced to closed since the start of the current lockdown in January. Now business owners throughout Bridport and the surrounding areas are raring to go ahead of Monday s phased reopening. South Street Sally, a clothing store on South Street, opened its doors for the first time in mid-December. Around three weeks later, the country was plunged into lockdown and the shop had to closed its doors for three months.
Pubs in Bridport and surrounding areas are preparing to reopen in either April or May. The roadmap for England s exit from the national lockdown states that pubs could be open from April 12 – but only serving customers outdoors. Pubs which do not have the outdoor space available will be unable to reopen then. The earliest date hospitality venues can seat customers indoors will be from May 17, and all restrictions look set to be lifted by June 21. Geraldine Baker, landlady of the Ropemakers on West Street, Bridport, said: We’re hoping to reopen in April. We’re lucky we have an outside area but you’ve got to weigh up whether the costs of opening are worth doing so.