Businesses in Falmouth react to being allowed to reopen

As businesses across the country reopen for the first time in months, Falmouth town centre is already bustling with activity from shoppers eager to revisit their favourite commercial haunts.

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The Packet spoke to a number of shops and businesses that have been eagerly awaiting their chance to reopen.

Mariangela Aiuto and Fabrizio Sabato, who run Cirui Cirui - an Italian ice cream parlour on Church Street, said: "We are quite confident, we think that this year might be very busy.

"We're also quite scared that we're opening up and then, in a few months, we'll close again.

"People need to live a normal life, and the road is packed with people, so we are a bit concerned about the future.

"Last year in August, the road was packed and we were quite scared, so we think it will be busy.

"We're working to the rules the Government gave to the people, and they're (the customers) are respecting the social distancing rules, they know to come in one at a time.

"They're very good, honestly, nobody complains.

"We've had to make all the ice cream, we've set up everything inside, cleaned everything properly and tidied up.

"We've decide to give a new look to the place, and you know that you're opening up again, so it's exciting."

Cirui Cirui on Church Street

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Rob Herron, the new Landlord at The Front pub at Custom House Quay has been looking forward to bringing back the atmosphere at the pub.

Rob said: "It's been interesting, it's been new, it's been a wild ride.

"We've definitely had a lot of support and people coming in, helping, wishing us well.

"It's been hard work but that's made it so much better.

"I'm quite new to it, but I loved the pub before, so it's my mission now to keep it just as good."

The Front Pub at Custom House Quay, Falmouth

Also looking forward to reopening was Irene Vidal, who runs the Rubicund radical book and coffee shop in St. George's Arcade on Church Street.

Irene said: "Yeah It's cool, it's been so long it feels a bit surreal, but I'm really happy to be open again.

"It's been a really peaceful pace, not like everyone rushing into the shop, so it's been really peaceful and nice.

"We've had to restock the perishables and rebuild our book collection, which is a bit difficult during lockdown as we sell a lot less.

"We've only had the online shop so it's kind of hard to rebuild it, but we got there and yeah, it's cool.

"The initial idea opening the shop was to have events, talks, workshops screenings, skill shares, things like that.

"Obviously we founded the business before the pandemic started, we opened just after the first lockdown, so we're a very new shop and as soon as we can we'll do poetry readings and small events and take it from there."

Rubicund radical book store in St George's Arcade

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Martin Seviour, who owns Sounds OK record store, has been doing everything he can in preparation of reopening his small yet packed-out shop to the public.

Martin said: "I was here all last week getting this place ready.

"Obviously I've been making the shop Covid-safe, dusting, making sure everything was cleaned down, touching everything up and making sure I've got the hand gel, paper towels, gloves if people want them.

"I then painted the outside of the shop to make sure it was looking nice and crisp and clean, which it is, and I've got arrows on the floor to direct people around a certain way.

"I'm also only allowing four people in at a time.

"That's what I've been doing so I'm here to say 'bring it on!'"

"I think it'll be a slow build, I'm not expecting great miracles today, being the first day opening.

"I think with shops people have got to build their trust up again."

Sounds OK on Church Street