South Shields seafront businesses come back to life as coronavirus lockdown eases
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Several pubs and the Ocean Beach amusement park reopened today, Saturday, July 4, after the Government eased coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Platform 33 has introduced measures including room dividers and table service to protect customers. Manager David Wardle said: "It has been hectic. We prepared as best we could have had to make some changes to comply with the guidelines."
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Hide AdPeter and Celia Ruddock had traveled from Roker to visit the pub.
"We have been before and we were so impressed we were determined to come back the first chance we got," said Peter, 75. "It has been worth the trip."
Celia, 76 added: "I was apprehensive in case the daft lads were out but it has been very pleasant. I feel quite comfortable and the atmosphere has been very good."
Twenty-year-old Holly Jordan Clark was just enjoying the chance to catch up with friends.
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Hide Ad“I am just having a great time out celebrating today,” she said.
“It is unreal.”
Joanne Meade, owner of the New Sundial, admitted she had been worried about lifting lockdown on a Saturday, but things had been quiet.
"I thought it was ridiculous but people are just having some food, having a drink and making the most of it," said Joanne.
"It has been good," she said.
"We have got loads of staff on the floor so that helps. We are operating more like a restaurant - it is table service only, which means there's no congestion at the bar.”
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Hide AdOcean Beach has reopened with a host of measures in place to protect visitors and staff, and a new contactless ‘fun card’ payment system replacing the old tickets and tokens.
“We were going to do it this summer anyway but the virus made it important than ever,” said director Philip Sheeran.
Ryan and Maria Paregeter, 28, had brought seven-month-old Lucas for his first visit.
“We didn’t even realise it was open,” said Ryan, from Jarrow.
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Hide Ad“We just came for a walk along the beach and some fish and chips but it’s nice to see things starting to get back to normal.”