Our opportunity to support local businesses

Our Governor John Coling tells us about the shops, cafes and restaurants that have become firm favourites during lockdown and how he is looking forward to shopping local more often.

When we moved to Letchworth Garden City six years ago, my place of work was in London (and always has been). My typical trip to town during the week was to rush to the train station in the morning and rush home in the evening to see my children before they went to bed.

While Microsoft Teams has been the focal point of life for me during lockdown, I have found time to create a false commute whereby going for a morning walk to clear my head and prepare for the day ahead. 

This involved walks either on parts of the Greenway or into town for a quick coffee or snack. Firm favourites have been No. 12, Cultivo and David’s Bookshop. It has also been a pleasure to support the local shops for those items I used to nip out and get during my lunchbreak in London.  This includes David’s Bookshop, Cooks Boutique and the shops down the Wynd. My wife especially enjoyed perusing in Basket and Bee!

With the sun now shining and the weather warming, we have thoroughly enjoyed coffee outside Esquires watching the world returning to some form of normality and treating the children to ice creams and playing in Howard park.   

During the first lockdown, as a family, we enjoyed Fabio’s and through them had cakes from The Cakey Lady. More recently we have treated ourselves to takeaways from Alloro and the Indian Royale, which came as a great treat and reward for the lack of socialising.

Now that shops have reopened, we look forward to visiting the high street again and visiting / exploring the shops and all they have to offer.  We are also looking forward to visiting Broadway Cinema for Kid’s Club, which is very friendly and well set up for the COVID restrictions.