Shopkeepers call on Portsmouth residents to come out and support the high street as Commercial Road reopens

Non-essential businesses, such as charity shops, hairdressers and even Christmas stores, were finally allowed to reopen in Commercial Road and the city centre today after the month-long closure.

Fortunately the winter cold did not keep eager customers away this morning.

Regulars came armed with fold-up chairs so they could line up outside Celly’s Hairstyle International before it opened.

Mother and daughter pairing Kerice Down, 61, and Amy Down, 38, had been waiting since 8am.

Kerice said: ‘I’ve been waiting since about 8 o’clock, I usually come every week except the last 4. I was in line waiting for them to reopen at the end of the first lockdown as well.’

Daughter Amy added: ‘I usually get it cut every six weeks, but I wanted to come down and support them before Christmas.’

It was a busy start to the morning in the Cascades shopping centre for Sonner Toys.

SEE ALSO: This is the current Covid tier for Portsmouth

Ellie Silver, 20, whose uncle owns the store, said: ‘We have had a few of our regulars in this morning already, it’s been great to see everyone.

'It is definitely good to be back, it beats being sat at home.

'I came in this morning and half the stuff was brand new so I’m still getting to grips with it all.

‘I’m hoping that Christmas will be good for business. Lockdown has not been easy for any business.’

For Keiley McCowen, 49, and her husband Christmas came early as the ending of lockdown meant that they could open their seasonal themed store in the shopping centre for the 10th year in a row.

She explained: 'I’m very excited to be back. We kind of thought there was a possibility of a lockdown but we decided to got ahead with it because we’ve always been here.

'I always thought we would reopen because you need Christmas.

'It has been really busy, people are raring to go.’

Her message to the residents of Portsmouth was: ‘Come out and support not just us but all the shopkeepers on the high street.’

Back in Arundel Street there was a sense of relief at Mini Amsterdam, which had only just opened on October 1 before being forced to shut again a few weeks later.

Niazullah Nafullah, 37, said: 'I am excited to be back at work of course. The lockdown was no good.

‘I did a little bit of exercise and spent time with family.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news online - as well as fewer adverts, access to our digital edition and mobile app.

For Black Friday we’ve slashed the cost of a new subscription by 30 per cent - so you can get unlimited access to our coverage for as little as £1.40 a month.