Local independents have suffered greatly as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, but the time has finally come for the doors to be reopened, and shop owners are delighted to be back.
After chaos with queues in the city centre, The Lincolnite went uphill in Lincoln to talk to some local independents on Steep Hill and the Bailgate to see how the reopening has gone.
Laura Scaife had only opened Fairy Godmother’s Beauty Room for a month before we went into national lockdown. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Perhaps the most relieved person in Lincoln was Laura Scaife, owner of Fairy Godmother’s Beauty Room on Steep Hill, which only opened last February, right before the pandemic hit Britain.
Laura wasn’t entitled to any furlough pay due to only starting the business very recently, so was eager to get started at work again.
She said: “It’s been a testing year for us, it was rather lonely in lockdown and obviously there’s only so much you can do on social media in an industry like mine.
“My clients have been absolutely amazing and they’ve all been coming back after each lockdown. Hopefully the future is promising for us after a difficult start.”
Sasha Drennan has owned Lindum Books since it opened seven years ago. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
At Lindum Books on the Bailgate, owner of seven years Sasha Drennan said that despite her happiness at reopening, she has faced difficulties when it comes to enforcing COVID-19 restrictions.
“We only opened on Tuesday and already I’ve had to remind people about wearing masks properly, social distancing and using hand sanitiser.
“Some were looking at the sanitiser like they’d never seen it before! I just hope people realise we are still in the midst of a pandemic, otherwise we could be in danger of going back to how we were.
“Despite this, I am obviously very happy to be back inside the shop and it’s great seeing people walking on the Bailgate again.”
Caroline Bundy has worked at Linkage for around six months. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
One shop that needed the reopening more than most was Linkage on the Bailgate, a Lincolnshire based charity offering support for people with learning difficulties.
Caroline Bundy, who works at the Linkage store, said that the charity had been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, due to stores being a great way to raise money.
After what was described as a “steady first day”, Caroline told The Lincolnite: “We’re excited to be back, hopefully the good weather will encourage people to get out shopping on the Bailgate and support local independents.”
Craig Burrows is the manager of Steep Hill Wines, offering a range of alcoholic drinks. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Steep Hill Wines have had to adapt, like so many others, due to lockdown closing the store, and their move online has proven to be a big hit.
Manager Craig Burrows has said that face-to-face contact is so important to the success of the store, and human interaction is the thing he has missed most.
“We are here to help people on the start of their wine journey, who might need a bit of direction as to what to try and what they may like.
“There’s no substitute for talking with people face-to-face, and that’s what we can now look to offer to all our customers.”
Craig also spoke about the community spirit of local independents, as everyone would lend a hand to one another during the difficult stages of lockdown.
He said: “Businesses would offer their services to one another during lockdown to help us all get through it, the importance of local independents cannot be understated.
“We must protect these local shops and not let them be replaced by big chains, it is part of what makes uphill Lincoln, particularly the Bailgate and Steep Hill, so unique and special.”
Elsewhere on Steep Hill, Imperial Teas of Lincoln celebrated reopening with a special anniversary, marking 30 years as a local business in the city.
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A man has been caught using the Royal Mail to distribute thousands of pounds worth of cannabis to addresses across the country, Lincoln Crown Court was told.
Julius Serva attempted to post 13 packages at the Bailgate Post Office in uphill Lincoln but staff alerted police after becoming concerned due to the smell from the items.
Philip Plant, prosecuting, said Serva was arrested and the subsequent investigation revealed he posted 43 packages at the Eastwood Road Post Office in Boston earlier the same day before travelling to Lincoln.
The Boston packages contained a combined total of 1.2kgs of cannabis with a street sale value of up to £12,000. The Lincoln packages contained 182gs of the drug which was potentially worth up to £1,500.
When Serva was interviewed he said he had been asked to post the packages by a friend of a friend and initially believed they contained computer parts but subsequently realised it was cannabis and continued with the task.
Mr Plant said: “He said he was requested to do this for £30. That is nonsense. The postage would have cost him £100.”
Serva, 34, of Walden Gardens, Boston, admitted two charges of possession of drugs with intent to supply as a result of the incidents in July 2020.
He was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years with up to 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Judge Simon Hirst told him: “This was effectively supplying direct to users. You plainly had an awareness of the size of the operation.”
Neil Sands, in mitigation, said that Serva, who was born in Lithuania, came to the UK in 2006 and had no convictions in the past decade.
Mr Sands said: “He had been employed as a farm worker but injured his elbow and was unable to work. He found himself completely without income and he fell behind with his rent. He was offered this opportunity and took it.”
A 24-year-old man accused of a serious assault on a police officer is to face a jury trial next year.
Steven Rogers, 24, of Scothern Lane, Dunholme, pleaded not guilty to a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent when he appeared before Lincoln Crown Court on Friday.
Recorder William Harbage QC adjourned the hearing for a trial due to take place in the week beginning February 14 next year.
Mr Rogers was granted bail with conditions including an electronically monitored curfew between 9pm and 6 am and is not to enter Welton except to attend any arranged appointment at Welton Medical Centre.
A second man, Daniel Plackett, 32, of Scothern Lane, Dunholme, has previously admitted charges of assault by beating of an emergency worker, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and resisting arrest.
Plackett was further remanded in custody today and will be sentenced following the conclusion of Mr Rogers’ trial.
Two Lincoln men have shared their ‘Wetherspoons paltry chip count’ experiences in the city after a Facebook group of the same name became a viral sensation, with one chip measuring an impressive 14cm.
Since being created a year ago ‘Wetherspoons paltry chip count’ has grown in size to nearly 72,000 members and gained national attention, with group admin Chris Allen saying: “I’m amazed at what has happened over the last few days, I never imaged this group would go any further than a few of my friends having a bit of light hearted fun.”
The purpose of the group is for people to share how many chips they got with their Wetherspoon meal, with some even getting their measuring tape out. Some have been served as little as 10 chips, while others were luckier with more than 60.
Lee Fowkes, who works in Lincoln as a mechanic, went to the Square Sail on Brayford Wharf North in Lincoln on Wednesday, October 20. His double chicken burger meal included 34 chips, which is considerably more than some other ‘measly’ meals posted about in the group.
The 19-year-old told The Lincolnite one his chips was 5.5 inches – almost 14cm – which he said he has been told is above average.
Lee’s portion contained 34 chips, including one measuring nearly 14cm.
Lee said: “I found out about the group that day and thought it was funny. Later that day, I went to ‘Spoons and decided to take part.
“It is a bit of light hearted fun and it is funny that people are making it so serious.
“I’d seen that some people had been getting quite measly portions and some were big so I wondered what mine would be like.
“I think it was a decently sized portion and I was satisfied. I enjoyed myself and it was a nice meal out.”
Dave’s portion came with 30 chips, with the longest measuring 9cm.
A 33-year-old University of Lincoln student called Dave used his iPhone measuring tool when he went to the Square Sail on Thursday, October 21.
His burger came with a portion of 30 chips, with the longest measuring 9cm and the shortest just 2cm.
Dave told The Lincolnite: “My friends told me about this group and said it was a laugh. After looking through the current posts I thought it was pretty funny.
“I love the lengths members are going through to measure their chips and giving a review.
“We happened to be in ‘Spoons the next day having a cheeky pint and I thought ‘why not?’ and that it would be a laugh to see if I get any responses.
“The portion was decent to be fair, I’ve definitely had less chips previously. After this I have decided I am now a self-proclaimed chipologist.”
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