Shops at a popular Derbyshire marina complex which closed temporarily due to the coronavirus lockdown are gradually starting to reopen for business.
Many retailers were forced to shut up shop at the end of March after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that non-essential retailers should close.
At Mercia Marina, near Willington, The Beetroot Tree café remained open throughout for takeaways as did convenience store Still Waters.
Now, thanks to the easing of some lockdown restrictions, plant and flower shop Horticulture 4 has reopened as has the restaurant, Lotus Indian Kitchen, with a takeaway service.
Other retailers including Black by Design, Twigg Home and Start and Tremayne have remained open online and Merchant’s Jewellers has also launched its new website.
Bookings are also now being taken for stays from July 4 onwards at the marina’s luxury lodges in anticipation of further easing of lockdown rules.
Alina Hudson, who runs Horticulture 4, said: “March 24 will be a day we will remember very well! To be told we were on lockdown and couldn’t open was the worst news we could hear.
“The biggest problem is that our industry relies on these three months of April, May and June to produce our main income for the rest of the year.
“However, it just meant we had to find a new way to market through the internet and social media sales and offering a contactless delivery service.
“After the horticulture sector was allowed to open the other week, we decided to open the shop with social distancing measures in place. At the end of the day we just need to respect each other and be sensible.”
