Lockdown 2.0 Diaries: BS23 – Weston-super-Mare

A couple huddle against the biting cold eating fish and chips on the promenade in Weston-super-Mare in a time-honoured tradition that not even Covid can stop.

It’s a familiar scene looking out across the vast stretch of beach, where a row of fishermen maintain safe social distancing as they wait with their lines cast out to sea, a couple of dogs frolic on the sand and a small boy screams in delight as he runs towards the waves and back.

A glance back towards land gives an indication of the toll lockdown is taking on this seaside town. Rows of hotels and bars that would usually be beckoning customers in from the cold stand quiet and empty on Friday afternoon.

The Grand Pier cuts a striking figure stretching out across the golden sand into the sea but the arcade games and refreshment kiosks are closed and large metal gates prevent anyone from entering the famous attraction in line with Government guidelines.

The Grand Pier is currently closed to the public – photo by Ellie Pipe

A large sign with a picture of a Christmas tree I visible through the gates. It reads ‘we hope we’ll all be back together in time for Christmas. Stay safe Weston-super-Mare’. With the town set to go into tier three when lockdown ends on December 2, it is unlikely that there will be any return to normality for the many hospitality and tourism businesses.

“I don’t care what I work really. It don’t make any difference, you can’t go anywhere or do anything,” says a woman to her friend, discussing work as they stir takeaway hot chocolates from the Victorian Café on Marine Parade.

‘When the going gets tough’ – the Boyzone version – is playing in the adjacent toilets, which seems as apt a soundtrack as any as we near the end of 2020. Here, alongside the coronavirus notices reminding people to wash their hands for 20 seconds, there are also laminated signs asking people not to wash their feet or children in the sinks (presumably children’s hands are fine though).

Down on the sand, a beach ranger is doing the rounds as the cloudy afternoon sky turns to dusk. On the promenade, joggers and dog walkers hurry past, wrapped up against the cold, and a couple discuss the joys of discovering local haunts during lockdown. “I went there for the first time the other day. I couldn’t believe how nice it was,” says one to the other.

The gates to the playpark are open but there’s no one inside and all is quiet at the Marine Lake, where fishermen sit patiently an intervals along the walkway while the water laps at the structure below.

Bars and hotels in Weston stand quiet during lockdown – photo by Ellie Pipe

The Queen’s been hiding out in the Midland Hotel – photo by Ellie Pipe

Weston’s been keeping quiet about it, but it turns out this is where the Queen’s been hiding out during lockdown. On Friday afternoon, she’s sitting regally in the window of the Midland Hotel, corgi on her lap and mask on her face staring at the passersby outside.

This one, like most hotels along the stretch, has a closed sign hanging on the doors. A couple of pubs optimistically have signs outside promoting Christmas dining, which won’t be going ahead for as long as North Somerset stays in tier three.

Lights bring some festive cheer to Weston – photo by Ellie Pipe

In the main shopping area, twinkling Christmas lights cast a cheery glow over the streets as shoppers hurry along, bags in hands. More festive lights greet people into the Sovereign Shopping Centre, where essential businesses are open, but there’s barely a soul to be seen at 4.30pm on Friday.

A small cluster of people are huddled under blankets in the doorway of one of the shops, which is currently closed. It’s bitterly cold but the government’s ‘everyone in’ scheme has not been extended through into winter at a time when more people are facing hardship.

Under a lit up ‘Welcome to Grove Village’ sign, people hurry home past the row of businesses, most of which are closed.

‘This evening’s performance has been postponed’ reads a sign on the door of The Playhouse Theatre, accompanied by a letter from March 2020, when the venue had to close its doors due to the pandemic. There’s a large poster advertising Sleeping Beauty – a socially distanced pantomime – but it’s likely to be a long time before shows here will return to normal and for now at least, the doors remain firmly shut.

On the way back, the reassuring scent of vinegar signals a chippy open for the early Friday evening trade, a welcome sign that in uncertain times, some things at least remain the same.

The doors to The Playhouse are closed for now – photo by Ellie Pipe

Read more: Lockdown 2.0 Diaries: BS22 – Kewstoke and Sand Bay