Guess Who's Back? Haslemere's High Street!

Its been a tough year for a lot of these businesses, especially given the percentage of our shops that are independent, but our favourite establishments are looking forward to seeing us. We spoke to Steve Everett, landlord at the Swan Inn, who said “we are really excited to welcome our guests back into our outside spaces and all our staff are eager to be serving our friends in a safe, welcoming manner”.

On Wey Hill, Lou, owner at the Lions Den told us, “we are delighted to be putting our outside seating back out, the beers are already in the fridge so lets hope for some warm days and evenings!”

Sarah from Haslemere Framing Co said "We are delighted to be able to open fully again.  It is wonderful to feel like we are returning to a sort of normal and all the small businesses around us are able to start trading again.  We didn't expect a silver lining from COVID restrictions but our email booking appointment system has been so successful, we are going to keep it.  It has enabled us to provide our customers with our bespoke service to an even more personalised level.”

Locals are just as eager for their favourite haunts to reopen, with a lot of people citing the charity shops as the most in need of the footfall. Stores that rely on people in their physical location, as well as generous donations from the public, have been some of the hardest hit by COVID 19 and the lockdown restrictions.

A lot of businesses in the area have to be applauded for their responsive effort to stay afloat during the pandemic; shops that weren't used to being online or using social media became well versed in click and collect, and the explosion of the Virtual High Street allowed businesses to talk to potential customers in a way they might not have previously been able. During the first lockdown, there was a 60% increase in online sales in the UK and retailers who have adapted to the change in services are the ones that are coming out the strongest in 2021. 

Some of our favourite shops have teamed up for fantastic collaborations during this time and independent retailers often have the flexibility to adapt to change in a way nationwide businesses are unable. Apothecary 27 on Weyhill partnering with Flying Fork Deli for a wonderful pop up picnic over the Easter weekend is a perfect example; customers could pick up a selection of sandwiches and mixed salads to take away and enjoy at their outdoor gatherings or in the gorgeous local countryside. 

Sharon Crawford, owner of Flying Fork Deli said "We are inspired by fresh seasonal colourful and locally sourced produce and want to share our passion for food with all the lovely people of Haslemere. As a business that started during lockdown, we loved meeting some of our customers and look forward to more pop ups in the summer months.”