Harrogate shops reopen today - here's our guide to what shoppers should expect

Opening for takeway food and drink in Harrogate - Bryn Lachwatsky owner of Prego cafe on Montpellier Parade.

The bunting may not have quite been put up yet but a ‘deep clean’ of Harrogate town centre has taken place, as part of the latest initiative by Harrogte Business Improvement District.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said yesterday that people should feel confident that it is safe to go back to the shops within social distancing guidelines, though the Prime Minister is already under pressure from national business leaders to reduce the 2m social distancing rule.

But, as well as an almost palpable sense of relief that the majority of shops are opening once again under Government guidelines, from Victoria Shopping Centre to the small independents, there is also a hint of trepidation in Harrogate among both businesses and shoppers.

Harrogate stores are preparing to open today from the Covid-19 lockdown. Pictured is the Cambridge Street entrance to Marks and Spencers. (Picture Gerard Binks)

Customers should prepare for a new landscape of protective screens, card machine-sales only, hand sanitisers, polythene gloves, marked walk ways, extra signage and the risk of some lengthy queues.

But will the new social distancing and hygiene rules put in place by local shops be enough to tease customers out from the safety of their homes and back into the town centre?

If so, will those measures be enough to do the job as life is breathed back into streets which have been largely deserted for weeks?

Not even business groups are entirely sure what to expect.

Parking charges may have been reintroduced both for on-street parking and organised car parks in Harrogate town centre - but much else will be different.

Bars, cafes and restaurants are not expected to open their doors again until next month, though some will be reopening for takeway food and drink only.

To enable social distancing by pedestrians, parking is banned on one of Harrogate's prime shopping streets, James Street, as well as one side of Albert Street and Commercial Street.

Not all of the shops in Harrogate town centre are expected to open today, Monday, June 15.

For example, Bettys shops on Parliament Street and RHS Harlow Carr, will not be opening until June 22.

Shops opening today in Harrogate*

Debenhams

Boots

Primark

M&S

HMV

Waterstones

WH Smith

JD Sports

Jespers

Imagined Things book shop

G23 menswear

Porters menswear

Post Office

Poundland

Grape Tree

Starbucks

*More are expected to follow

What a Harrogate shop owner says

Robert Kennedy-Bruyneels of G23 & Porters menswear shops on Cambridge Street and Oxford Street is living up to Harrogate’s reputation for superior quality by offering a private appointment to have the entire store to yourself.

He said: “I don’t expect the first few weeks to be very busy but, hopefully, it will pick up as the weeks go by,” he said. “We have followed all of the guidelines available for social distancing but the most important thing we have put in place is private appointments.

“This means that for customers who really don’t want to risk close contact with others they will be able to book a private appointment and have the place to themselves.

“The individual appointments are available daily from 8am to 11am and 4pm to 9pm via our websites.”

Bettys to reopen shops in Harrogate as lockdown eases in retail sector

What a Harrogate cafe owner says

One Harrogate cafe owner who has reopened recently for takaway food and drink, said the feeling among the town’s traders and customers was positive overrall.

Bryn Lachwatsky, who runs Prego cafe on Montpellier Parade, said: “We’ve been taking a fraction of the normal business; about 20%, but it’s not about the money, it’s about showing people you are still going.

“I’ve been trading for nearly 20 years now and I don’t want something like this to defeat me.

“People still walk around our lovely town and, when they pop in here for a coffee or a sandwich it’s obvious they get a real thrill.

“The attitude is wonderful. It’s been worth it to open.”

Bars and restaurants remain closed, though some cafes are open for takeaway, including:

Marconi, Prego, Weetons, Baltzersen's and Cold Bath Deli.

Advice to all shoppers from the British Retail Consortium

The British Retail Consortium (BRC), the trade body for shops, is urging customers to play their part in making shopping safer.