"It's good to be back" - Greggs customers glad to have 'a bit of normality' as stores reopen

The stores have floor markings, staff PPE, screens at counters and other measures to protect against coronavirus.

There are also smaller menus to ensure social distancing in kitchens and workspaces.

Across Sunderland, South Shields and Hartlepool people queued to visit shops which has reopened for the first time since lockdown.

We asked delighted customers at Greggs on Springwell Road in Grindon how it felt to have Greggs back.

Terry Taylor, 51, from Shiney Row was looking forward to a sausage roll.

He said: “It’s been three months. We’re not as free coming in and out as we were, everything’s restricted. I think it’s going to be a long while before it changes back to normal, if it ever does.

“I can do without sausage rolls, but when you haven’t had things for a while, it’s really nice to get them when you can.”

John Harrison, 36, from Hall Farm, was also happy to return.

He said: “They’re doing well with social distancing, we were asked to stay outside until it was our turn, so they’re taking it seriously.

“I’ve had a KFC and McDonald’s since they reopened and they haven’t been the best but Greggs won’t let us down.”

Maria Pereaira of Houghton said: “I’ve come for my espresso. I usually go to Greggs every day, it’s good to come back.”

Elisha Waller, 27, from Grindon said: “I hadn’t been in since before lockdown started. I don’t often go in Greggs generally, it was just that my nana wanted a coffee.

“But it’s nice to get that bit more normality back in your life, just to be able to go and do something, rather than wondering ‘Can I go in now?’ about things.”

Ted Martin, 54, from Grindon, who hadn’t been in since March, agreed, saying: “I was just passing, there’s been a big queue earlier. It’s about getting back to normality, isn’t it? It’s good to do normal things again, especially the way things are, I’m looking forward to this latte.”

Greggs has more than 2,050 outlets and plans to reopen all its shops from early July.

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