‘It’s good to see all the regulars back’ – Seafront pubs and restaurants enjoy first weekend of trading after lockdown
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Sunderland businesses have enjoyed a busy first weekend of trading in beer gardens and outdoors since lockdown restrictions eased on Monday, April 12.
For the first time in 2021, restaurants and pubs with outdoor seating were allowed to welcome customers back to the delight of business owners, staff and punters alike.
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Hide AdStephen Mason, the manager of Martino’s on Dykelands Road in Seaburn said that it had been a busy weekend for the popular Italian restaurant.
He said: “It’s fantastic to be back open again, it has been a good first week and really busy weekend.
"It is so good to see people out smiling and enjoying themselves again.”
Assistant manager Dawn Pratt said it was nice to be socialising again, adding: “It is nice to be back to work and seeing everyone again, I definitely missed the social side of things.
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Hide Ad"It has been a good weekend, the more it has gone on, the busier it seems to have become.”
Other businesses, including Grannie Annie’s at Roker, said they’ve seen a steady flow of customers since they were able to reopen with 14 outdoor tables.
But the cooler weather, especially along the seafront, may have put some people off sitting out after the second stage of lockdown restrictions were lifted.
Adam Straughan, of Grannie Annie’s, said: “It’s good to see all the regulars back – who have been popping down for a coffee or a pint – that we’ve missed for the past year.
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"People have taken their time and haven’t been ordering 10 pints at once and getting absolutely lathered. People are having a few drinks, following the rules and not being a hassle.
"It’s one less thing we have to worry about when there’s everything with Track and Trace that we have to follow. It’s really nice that it feels like people are on our side with it all.”