High street: Maldon and Burnham business reacts to reopening

The high streets in Maldon and Burnham were abuzz with residents who were now able to go get haircuts, visit cafes and pubs, and say hello to friends and family out in the open air.

As the second step in the Government’s roadmap got underway, businesses in the area have breathed a sigh of relief.

Maldon resident Lucie Walker-Hutt, 32, runs the zero-waste shop Silo in Maldon High Street.

The business was first set up in Brights Path in 2019 before making the short move this year.

SO HAPPY: Lucie Walker-Hutt outside Silo in Maldon

She said: “We did love being down Brights Path but we were a bit tucked out the way, so we decided to move on to to High Street.

“We were working there alongside having the shop open, so it was hard work, but it was lovely because we had customers cheering us on.

“Since being open, we have really noticed a completely different customer base than what we had before – lots of new people and well-wishers.

“It’s been really nice because people just want us to do well.

“Monday was our busiest day for a long time, and it was really promising to see.

“It feels really positive and there is a sense of optimism.

“People are really gearing up to having a good spring and a good summer by working together and promoting each other, which is nice.”

The owners of the Cabin Dairy Café in Burnham’s high street welcomed regulars they had not seen since March last year.

Visitors enjoying the sun outsite the Cabin Dairy Cafe in Burnham

Co-owner Becca Tatlow, 25, said it was lovely seeing people out and about.

“I was so lovely to actually talk to people and be outside – the sun’s shining, regular customers are coming back, and new people are coming in too,” she said.

“It felt like a bit of normality.”

As a Burnham resident, she had also heard the Victoria Inn, which came with new tenants, has been busy with business.

She added: “We were shut from January to March, and we reopened in March for takeaways but it’s not the same.”

“It’s genuinely so nice to see places open which haven’t been open for months.

“It feels so surreal now that you can go to a hairdressers, and get your hair cut.

“It’s nice to see local people out and about supporting businesses. I know others have had it worse because at least we’ve been able to open in some capacity but places like pubs and non-essential shops have been unable to open.

“You’re so nervous because you’re thinking ‘are your customers going to come back?’, ‘is it going to be busy or worthwhile?’

“But when you reopen and you’re fairly busy, and your customers are slowly returning, it’s just so lovely.”