Pubs, shops and hairdressers across the county are celebrating the fact they will finally be allowed to reopen for business on Monday.

Pewsey landlord Martyn Smith is looking forward to pulling his first post lockdown pint. He took over the Royal Oak just as the pandemic hit last year.

“I’ve taken this lockdown as a chance to make a few changes inside such as putting in more bench seats as I can see we will be seated for some time to come,” he said.

“In the garden I have taken over some of the carpark with seating and am putting up some sale cloth, overhead cover and windbreaks.

“I have increased my wifi capability in order to take orders on a tablet saving the staff so much travel to and from the bar. I also have a firepit and an inexhaustible supply of firewood.”

Polly’s Tea Rooms in Marlborough is raring to go. “Our customers are so keen to come back,” said owner Ann Clarke. “We are already taking a lot of bookings for our cooked breakfasts!”

Shop keepers are also celebrating. 

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David Dudley has run a jewellery shop in the centre of Marlborough High Street for 30 years.

“We are so looking forward to welcoming our customers again,” he said. “I think people have really missed coming to the High Street. It is also really important that folks shop local too. Around 80 percent of cash spent with independent shops circulates back into the town, rather than with chains, where the figure is more like 20 percent.”

Bob of Fox in the House, the brother brand to Hen House Brides in Devizes, said the news had been a real boost, and that he was confident footfall and social distancing could be easily managed.

“We can’t wait to open up again. There’s so many people that want to come in, people have been wearing the same old clothes for nearly a year now. I think we all want an excuse to dress up!”

Deb and Dave, at the Southgate Inn in Devizes, are making plans for the return of outdoor music at their pub.

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Deb said: “Ours is a very social pub and we know our customers can’t wait to return. The garden is lovely as ever, we’ve bought some extra tables and will have an extra marquee to provide shelter until we are allowed to open fully indoors.”

Public buildings like community and council leisure centres can also reopen from Monday.

Wiltshire Council has offered advice and support to businesses. Chief executive Terence Herbert said: “It’s important to recognise that the community support and togetherness that we have all shown is what is helping Wiltshire to get through this, and we will continue to work with our communities to help us all recover from the pandemic.”

High street businesses will be able to apply for Restart Grants when applications open in early April and are worth up to £6,000 for non-essential retail and up to £18,000 for hospitality businesses such as personal care, pubs, leisure and hotels.