Cosham high street sees non-essential shops re-open - to the relief of 'isolated' shoppers

NON-ESSENTIAL shops in Cosham have reopened after the national lockdown – and one shopper has explained how their reopening comes as a huge relief.
Cocos Gabriella, left, and Cengiz Kaya, both of Nino's cafe
Picture: Chris Moorhouse   (021220-08)Cocos Gabriella, left, and Cengiz Kaya, both of Nino's cafe
Picture: Chris Moorhouse   (021220-08)
Cocos Gabriella, left, and Cengiz Kaya, both of Nino's cafe Picture: Chris Moorhouse (021220-08)

While footfall represented a normal day in Cosham high street, many shoppers were relieved to embrace a slight return to normality after the four-week national lockdown.

For Sophie Gatrell, a day out shopping was a much-needed break from feeling ‘very isolated’ looking after her five-month-old daughter Isla - who was born during the first lockdown.

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Sophie said: ‘It’s nice to get out of the house and have some adult conversation. I’ve been going to the supermarket just as a day out in lockdown. I thought it would be busier today.’

Sophie Gatrell and her 5 month old daugher, Isla
Picture: Chris Moorhouse   (021220-09)Sophie Gatrell and her 5 month old daugher, Isla
Picture: Chris Moorhouse   (021220-09)
Sophie Gatrell and her 5 month old daugher, Isla Picture: Chris Moorhouse (021220-09)
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The 29-year-old was made redundant from solicitor firm Coffin Mew during her maternity leave: ‘It was very hard. In hospital, it was like giving birth in a prison cell - I was in a room on my own.

‘I couldn’t see my husband for five days, and I could only see Isla for an hour a day.

‘I just needed a hug from someone.’

Cafe worker Cocos Gabriella and director Cengiz Kaya at Cosham cafe Nino’s said that trade had been a little slower than expected on the first day out of lockdown.

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Cengiz said: ‘We closed during the lockdown and expected it to be busier today. People are still scared to come in. We have a lot of older customers and they are still very scared. I’m sure it will get better.’

Regarding the plight of the high street, he said: ‘Of course it will be harder for us as more shops close.

‘But in this pandemic, everyone is suffering.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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