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Queues, cleaning stations and creative signage as Bristol shops reopen
The scene in Bristol city centre was a far cry from a few weeks ago as retailers opened their doors for the first time since lockdown began.
Queues snaked far around the corner of some chain stores, including Primark and Zara, while it was a more tenuous start for others, with several shops not planning to reopen until later in the week.
Hand sanitiser stations are now a common sight at the entrance to stores and arrows stencilled on the ground guide shoppers around the one-way systems designed to aid social distancing.
Bristol’s high street is bearing the scars of a lockdown period that has been the final nail in the coffin for some businesses, with vast empty units where high street names such as Monsoon, Oasis and Warehouse.
Shoppers returned to Cabot Circus on Monday
A number of businesses are yet to reopen
For some retailers, lockdown was the final nail in the coffin
Despite many operating on skeleton staff, there was a sense of relief among retailers on Monday, June 15, the first day non-essential shops have been allowed to reopen since the Government-imposed lockdown restrictions came into play.
“It’s been busy all day,” one retail assistant told Bristol24/7 with a smile, adding: “It’s good because of the risk of recession but people seem to be going shopping crazy, some are going around with five Primark bags.”
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The queue for Primark snaked around the corner of the store
The queues for Primark started in the morning and continued to stretch around the corner of the Horsefair-based store well into the afternoon.
Security guards and cleaning teams maintained a visual presence throughout the day as shoppers adjusted to the ‘new normal’ of queuing and following the extensive signage snaking around Cabot Circus and Broadmead.
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Adriana Georgievia says trade is slowly picking up inside Mabboo in The Galleries
All was quiet inside The Galleries, compared to the bustle of the streets outside, as a scattering of people made their way around the few shops that have reopened.
Adriana Georgievia, a sales assistant in Mabboo said it had been a quiet morning but picked up as the day went on.
“People are really trying to keep their distance,” she said. “We’ve not seen a huge wave but people are around and I think it will pick up as the week goes on.”
St Nick’s Market is back open for business but some outlets remain closed for now
Safety measures to facilitate social distancing have been installed throughout the market
Over on Corn Street, it was relatively calm on Monday afternoon as businesses slowly returned to a version of normal.
Signage was in place at the doors to St Nick’s Market, along with one-way arrows, hand sanitiser, disposable gloves and a security guard to greet shoppers coming in and out. It has been a staggered reopening for the popular market and a number of outlets are still yet to reopen.
It was busier than usual on Monday for Urban Fox
Inside Urban Fox retro clothes shop, retail assistant Sophia Jowett said it was a busier than usual Monday morning.
“It’s been steady,” she told Bristol24/7. “I didn’t know what to expect but so far it’s been good. It’s nice to be back.”
All photos by Ellie Pipe
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