Support your local high street

Many of our high street shops are trading once again. We are committed to supporting retailers across the Borough and to ensure local people have as safe a shopping environment as possible. Local people supporting local shops is an important part of the economic recovery following the national lockdown. So whether you are using the new car park in Hedge End village or visiting one of our other village centres such as Chandler’s Ford, West End or Hamble-le-Rice, it’s important we all support our local shops.

Stay Safe - maintain your social distance

We all need to maintain social distancing when we are out shopping. The Government advised local authorities to make appropriate changes to roads to help with social distancing for residents, pedestrians and cyclists. We have placed signs in all our shopping areas across the Borough to remind people to keep their distance and

everyone (except those with an exemption) should wear face coverings when entering a shop.

Eastleigh town centre is a priority area due to high footfall, so we have also temporarily closed Market Street and High Street to vehicles and have suspended on-street parking. This was done for the safety of local people with support from Hampshire County Council and means both Market Street and

High Street are currently for pedestrian use only. We continue to monitor the temporary road closure and have also worked to improve access to the town centre, with more disabled parking. The closure offers the opportunity for food retailers to create a ‘café culture’ with the new Pavement Licence (see page 11).

Chair of Eastleigh Local Area Committee, Cllr Tina Campbell, said: “The introduction of these and other social distancing measures in our town will help create a safe trading environment for businesses and shoppers. We want to ensure everyone who uses our town centre is confident they have a secure space in which to shop and walk around the town, especially as numbers increase. It’s important that shops and businesses are supported while protecting public health which is, as always, our number one priority.”

Cabinet Lead for Economy, Cllr Derek Pretty, said: “We’re committed to do all we can to help businesses in the borough as we begin the economic recovery. Our town centre shops and businesses contribute a great deal to our local economy, and we want to see them continuing to trade safely and successfully in the future.”

A local family enjoying their food on the outdoor garden terrace at Artisan in High Street, Eastleigh

Support your local retailers

Local retailers have been ensuring that shoppers are kept safe when they visit the town centre

Pat’s Sandwich Bar

Pat’s Sandwich Bar in Market Street have put in a range of measures to ensure that all their staff and customers are safe when they visit. Manager, Brad Hassall, said: “We would like to thank all our customers for supporting us at these difficult times and look forward to seeing them in the future.”

Artisan Meze and Wine Bar

The popular Artisan Meze and Wine Bar in High Street is providing exceptional Turkish and Mediterranean dishes for local people. The restaurant also benefits from a quaint grapevine-covered terrace which provides an ideal place to enjoy the sunshine but also to ensure diners can keep socially distanced while enjoying their food. Owner, Hasan Yalvac, said: “It’s great that we have been able to reopen again and I thank all our customers who have

supported us over the last few months and look forward to welcoming more of our customers back soon.”

Roebridge Farm Shop

Roebridge Farm Shop in Market Street has stayed open throughout lockdown providing vital fresh fruit and vegetables for local people. They also teamed up with a local butcher to provide a delivery service during lockdown. Shop Manager, Steve Miles, said: “We’ve remained busy throughout the last few months and I’d like to thank all our customers for supporting us through these difficult times. Many people like to just quickly pop in for their fruit and vegetables. Although there may be a queue outside, we limit the numbers to four at a time in the shop and everyone feels safe.”

New Bake House opening soon

EVI Artisan Bake House in High Street is planned to open by the end of September.

It will be a great addition to the Eastleigh town centre serving sourdough pizza in their woodfired pizza oven.

Photo: Hasan outside the new Artisan Bake House

Creating a café culture

New Pavement Licence to help local businesses

Cafés, pubs, restaurants and other food outlets across the Borough now have the chance to apply to have tables and chairs on the pavement as part of a new scheme.

The scheme allows businesses involved in the sale of food and/ or drink (including alcohol) to apply apply for a Pavement Licence to place furniture on the highway on a temporary basis. Cabinet Lead for Economy, Cllr Derek Pretty, said: “I’m really pleased that the updated legislation will make it easier, quicker and cheaper for food premises across the borough to apply for outdoor seating area licences. I hope people will support our local businesses, while staying safe and considering others. We must do all we can to help the economic recovery of our Borough.”

Find out more: eastleigh.gov.uk/pavementlicence

Bringing fun into Eastleigh town centre

Entertainment and activities for visitors to Eastleigh town centre are taking place on Saturdays throughout September. The Together, We Make Eastleigh programme of events is aimed at providing safely distanced entertainment and to bring residents and visitors into the town’s main retail area, Attractions include story-telling, a digital trail for all the family, live music, visual art displays - and even a roaming octopus!

Find out more: www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk