Shops Still Trading In Town Centre

Published on: 2 May, 2020
Updated on: 3 May, 2020

By Hugh Coakley

Despite the lockdown, there is a number of essential shops still trading in Guildford town centre with some surprises.

Whereas a few weeks ago the town was deserted, there is now noticeably more traffic and pedestrians.

With the Friary shopping centre behind and its Holland & Barratt shop open, a skateboarder makes the most of the rotunda at the bottom of North Street.

Guildford Borough Council on its Facebook page wrote: “There are still plenty of opportunities to buy local food and support local businesses.” and cited the North Street market for “fruit, veg, bread, cheeses and fish.”

Guildford Borough Council encourages people to shop locally.

People are going to the post office in WH Smith.

A young couple, who live in the town, were not sure that this was the right approach. They said that people were “more relaxed” about the lockdown but thought that, due to the “vulnerability of others”, it would be worthwhile “sticking to more severe methods for longer.”

The food hall in Marks & Spencer is open……

And at its Swan Lane entrance, Boots the chemist, with people queuing with social distancing in mind…..

The North Street market is there on Fridays and Saturdays for fruit, veg, bread, cheeses and fish. It is common for people to be wearing masks now.

Specsavers in Friary Street is open for emergencies only.

Queues outside Waitrose in Haydon Place…

And Sainsbury’s in the High Street.

Buses are operating on a reduced service.

Many takeaways were open for delivery or collect including Kokoro, the Sushi and Bento food shop in North Street…

Pasta Out in Swan Lane.

Bombay Buzz, Indian food and Five Guys for burgers and fries in Friary Street…

Hungry Buddha is also in Friary Street…

Partisan, the cheesemonger and delicatessen in Chapel Street has limited opening times but manager Amy George said it was busy and looking for a driver and someone to help pack deliveries in the shop.

Positanos in Tunsgate are doing home deliveries said one of the cheery Italian staff just back from a delivery.

And under the Tunsgate Arch, Brownbread is trading all week selling artisan bread.

Jeita, the Lebanese restaurant and The Guildford Spice, the Indian restaurant, are both in Chertsey Street and taking orders for takeaways.

Growlers and Cans, just up the road in Chertsey Street, is open for takeaway beer only.

Subway in the upper High Street is open…

But next door, KFC has decided it is not opening yet during the lockdown.

Carmona, the steak and tapas restaurant in upper High Street is offering a takeaway service but Zizzis, the Italian restaurant next door, has decided not to.