Queues outside salons and pubs and cafes busy as lockdown restrictions eased in Peterborough

Pubs, restaurants and cafes all saw customers returning with many eager to enjoy a coffee, and eating out for the first time.

There were customers queuing at Celly’s in Bridge Street from 7am this morning and a staff member took a few minutes out from a hectic schedule to summarise the first few hours of trading.

“It seems to be going pretty well,” she said. “We have had a lot of people coming in.

“It has gone well and customers have understood. In a few cases we have had to explain what to do and they have been fine.

“There are a lot of people coming and calling and we will be busy all day.”

Protective equipment, reorganised floor plans and careful social distancing has enabled salons to see customers for the first time today with many booked up for several weeks.

At Giorgio Barber Shop in Westgate Arcade there were also queues but customers had responded well to new guidelines according to barber Carl Renda.

“It’s been really good. Everyone has been fantastic and customers have responded really well.

“We are all just getting used to the new normal and we will see what happens but it has been all good today.”

Draper’s Arms manager Chris Parkes said: “It’s been an interesting day so far. It has gone well and relatively smoothly.

“Our app going down didn’t help but that is being sorted.

“We are getting used to everything and keeping customers apart will be our job constantly.

“It has been busy, at the moment we have about 100 people in and they are all spaced nicely. We won’t be overly busy at any stage as once we are full that’s in. “Other customers can’t come in until there is room.

“It has been good to see customers again and to be fair they all seem very happy to see us back.”