From 17 May 2021, other high street businesses including indoor hospitality, cinemas and children’s play centres will join non-essential retail, personal care businesses and takeaway businesses in reopening across England in line with the government’s reopening roadmap.
For indoor hospitality, venues will not have to serve a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks; nor will there be a curfew. Customers will, however, have to order, eat and drink while seated.
If you are returning to the high street, please do so safely and responsibly. High Street businesses are required to carry out a risk assessment and make changes to manage social distancing both inside and outside their premises. Each shop may have slightly different measures in place so please follow individual instructions.
We want everyone to be able to enjoy Torbay safely. Whether you are a resident, a visitor or a business, you have a role in preventing the spread of the virus.
Please remember if you are visiting the high street, adhere to the national health and safety guidance to help protect yourself and others.
This includes:
- Wearing a face covering inside any shop or business
- Maintaining a safe social distance from others
- Washing hands or using sanitiser frequently (there are 12 hand contactless hand sanitiser stations in public realms across Torbay).
- Using cashless payments when possible
We are encouraging people to continue to support local businesses by whatever means you are able to do so. If you can’t visit your local high street, consider buying through business’s websites, social media channels or if applicable, using take away or click and collect services.
Remember you can now discover your local Torbay high street online here
Watch our Reopening High Streets Safely Video
Video contents accurate at time of creation and upload. This video was filmed and produced in a Covid-19 secure way. Video credit to Rokethouse entertainment.
You can find the latest information on Covid-19 in Torbay here, including advice on testing and support available.
Support for businesses
To help support businesses during this time, the Government have announced increased support for the self-employed as well as an extension to the Coronavirus job retention scheme.
Free digital support
We are excited to launch a new program of support for high street businesses in Torbay called Maybe*.
Maybe* is a platform that allows businesses:
- To better understand their social media output and improve engagement with customers
- To enhance their ‘place’ or shopping area’s visibility online
- Reward loyal customers for offline spending.
There is lots of help and support online to get you started including weekly webinars, a Facebook group, demonstrations and a live chat function (with a real person!).
This is a fully-funded programme for any high street business and will run until at least February 2022.
Facebook group
A Facebook group has been set up for independent high street businesses in Torbay. The aim of the Facebook group is to work collaboratively to ensure the safe opening of the high streets, share best practice and feedback and help streamline communications.
Join the Torbay retailers Facebook group
Toolkits
The Better Business for All (BBfA) partnership COVID-19 Toolkits remain available for all businesses to use:
COVID-19 compliance officers
You can now request reopening advice directly from a dedicated COVID-19 compliance officer, who will work with you and your businesses to ensure your business is COVID-19 compliant.
Hand sanitiser stations
As part of the Reopening High Streets Safely Project, 12 hand sanitiser stations have been erected in Torbay high streets to help tackle the transmission of COVID-19. The stations are sensor operated, and filled with anti-COVID-19, alcohol-free hand gel.
You can find these stations at the locations:
Brixham
Paignton
Torquay
- Union Street
- Market Street (near public toilets)
- Lower Union Street
- Fleet Street
- Fleet Walk
- St Marychurch Precinct
The hand stations are temporary fixtures and will be cleaned and replenished regularly. Please make use of these if you are shopping in Torbay high streets.
For any queries regarding any of the above, please email gemma.fitzsimmons@tda.uk.net
The Reopening High Streets Safely Project has received funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
