Shops and businesses reopen in Fareham - to the delight of eager customers

STAFF and customers were equally delighted to be back in Fareham town centre for the reopening of shops.
Aleks Vuksani, 43, from Southsea was ready to cur hair at Safia’s Barbers in Fareham Shopping Centre, with customer Colin White, 77, from Waterlooville.Aleks Vuksani, 43, from Southsea was ready to cur hair at Safia’s Barbers in Fareham Shopping Centre, with customer Colin White, 77, from Waterlooville.
Aleks Vuksani, 43, from Southsea was ready to cur hair at Safia’s Barbers in Fareham Shopping Centre, with customer Colin White, 77, from Waterlooville.

The town centre was busy with people keen to get back to normality following the second lockdown.

Staff at La Galerie in West Street were keen to get back to serving customers.

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Manager Tony Cinar said: ‘We are ready for our first day and we are excited to be here. We were open throughout lockdown for takeaway but it was not very good. Now we are open and we are hoping to be busy. We have been here seven years and we are popular, Fareham has a very good business, we like being here along the road from our sister cafe Stones, which has reopened today as well.’

Audrey Pinchin, 67, from FarehamAudrey Pinchin, 67, from Fareham
Audrey Pinchin, 67, from Fareham

Audrey Pinchin, 67, from Fareham, enjoyed a coffee at La Galerie before returning to her voluntary job.

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Audrey said: ‘I’m a volunteer at Debra charity shop and we are opening again today. We were in yesterday, packing and unpacking, cleaning and clearing, and getting ready. I just wish we could get back to some sort of normality, it’s not going to be the same again ever but there’s hope with the vaccine. This lockdown was not so bad but it’s good to open again, it means a lot to the charity, the last lockdown was too long.’

At The Crown, a Wetherspoon pub in West Street, the staff were equally keen to get back to work – although they were all getting to grips with new rules.

Shane Davies, runs the Crafty Makery in Fareham Shopping CentreShane Davies, runs the Crafty Makery in Fareham Shopping Centre
Shane Davies, runs the Crafty Makery in Fareham Shopping Centre
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Manager Kim Deans, 30, from Gosport, said: ‘It is nice to be back. People now have to order a meal before they can order alcohol, and there is a four-pint limit, so we are working hard to stick to the rules.

‘It’s the rules we have to follow and it’s out of our control. I understand why they have been brought in as the more people drink the less likely they are to stay socially distant from each other, but our customers have been very good and adapted very well last time. I hope that is the case again this time.’

Sally Ware, 63, and Colin Harding, 72, from West Street, Fareham, enjoyed an early breakfast at the pub.

Sally said: ‘We don’t go out in the evenings and we haven’t been out for four weeks so we wanted to come out and enjoy breakfast. We knew if we came out early then it would be quiet. We like to come here as it’s convenient, we have always supported Wetherspoon as it’s cheap and the staff here are wonderful.’Colin said: ‘The summer lockdown was okay but this one was hard, I don’t like it but we have got to accept it.’

Lucy Dempsey, pub manager, Kim Deans, pub manager, Kirsten Lawrence, bar associate, Niki Hartley, bar associate at the Crown West StreetLucy Dempsey, pub manager, Kim Deans, pub manager, Kirsten Lawrence, bar associate, Niki Hartley, bar associate at the Crown West Street
Lucy Dempsey, pub manager, Kim Deans, pub manager, Kirsten Lawrence, bar associate, Niki Hartley, bar associate at the Crown West Street
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Michael Keat, 50, from Bridgemary, also enjoyed a full English breakfast and pint at the Crown.

Michael, who works at Tesco in Alver Valley, said: ‘I like being out and about. I don’t like being stuck indoors. I have been really busy for the last four weeks at work but it’s nice to be able to relax today. I like it here as they do a good breakfast and the staff are always really helpful.’

For small businesses, it's been a tough four weeks.

Florist James Mason, 50, from North End, has run a stall in West Street, Fareham, for 30 years.Florist James Mason, 50, from North End, has run a stall in West Street, Fareham, for 30 years.
Florist James Mason, 50, from North End, has run a stall in West Street, Fareham, for 30 years.

Florist James Mason, 50, from North End, has run a stall in West Street, for 30 years.

He said: ‘I’m expecting it to be quiet today but to pick up by Saturday when people start to venture out again.

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‘None of us are expecting too much after the last six months. We are just hoping to break even and hold on until it’s over.

‘We are gritting our teeth and holding on with hopes for the future.’

Murat Mustafa, 45, from Fareham, runs KemPresTshirts in Fareham Shopping Centre. He has sold T-shirts for seven years.

He said: ‘It has been horrendous, to have lost the whole of November was a disaster.

leks Vuksani, 43, from Southsea was ready to cur hair at Safia’s Barbers in Fareham Shopping Centre.leks Vuksani, 43, from Southsea was ready to cur hair at Safia’s Barbers in Fareham Shopping Centre.
leks Vuksani, 43, from Southsea was ready to cur hair at Safia’s Barbers in Fareham Shopping Centre.
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‘It’s the first day back and I have no expectations, I think it’s better that way. I can’t do anything about it. Christmas will still be Christmas, I hope people will still support me.

‘It’s hard to get new business, almost everyone I sell to has bought from me before. I know you can get T-shirts like mine online but with clothes face to face is always better, you can feel it, see the size and touch it.’

Shane Davies, runs the Crafty Makery in Fareham Shopping Centre.

Shane set up Crafty Makery in 2017 and moved into his unit in Fareham Shopping Centre this summer.

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Shane, 52, said: ‘As we are a Community Interest Company with an emphasis on well being, we have been able to keep some elements going throughout lockdown.

‘However today we are open to the public once again, we have lots planned, we are starting a new dads and grandads club on a Sunday, and have lots of craft activities happening like wreath making, Christmas decorations, Christmas Eve boxes.

‘We are encouraging people to visit in their household bubbles. We are helping people through craft and play, and there’s so much more of a need for that now.’

Aleks Vuksani, 43, from Southsea was ready to cur hair at Safia’s Barbers in Fareham Shopping Centre.

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He said: ‘It has been so quiet the last four weeks as we have been shut through lockdown. We are expecting to be busy today and we are pleased to be back in action.’

Safia’s Barbers first customer Colin White, 77, from Waterlooville. He was visiting with his wife Jacky, 74, who was Christmas shopping.

Colin said: ‘It is the first time we have been free for the past four weeks so we are making the most of it. We live in Waterlooville but like coming here as it’s all under cover.

‘In Waterlooville everything is closing, it’s a sorry sight. Safia’s is a great barber, I always come here and I’m very happy, even though I haven’t got a lot of hair left.’

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Matthew Clark, from Gosport, also was one of the first in to get his hair cut at Safia’s.

He was out with his wife Dani Clark, 29, from Gosport and their six month old daughter Georgiana.

Dani said: ‘We’ve come out for a hair cut and to get the last Christmas presents. It has been hard this lockdown, especially with a young baby and a three year old at home.

‘I have been organised for Christmas, as long as Christmas still happens then they can do what they need to do.’

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Sven Gould, 57, wife Linda Gould, 66, and Sven’s father Alan Gould, 88, from Eastleigh, were the first customers at BBs Bakers and Muffins in Fareham Shopping Centre.

Linda said: ‘We are here to get our Covid tests at Boots and if we are clear we are off to Tenerife for four weeks on Friday.

‘We have been alright through this lockdown, it’s better here than in Spain. We are looking forward to having some breakfast today, then having a look round the shops.'

Phil Mayhew and John Beynon, sales associates at Sky Customer Hub in Fareham Shopping Centre were pleased to be back at their station seeing customers face to face.

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John said: ‘We are hoping things will pick up, we were able to work from home throughout lockdown but we prefer being here. We are open so come and see us and we can help you with your Sky needs.’

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