After almost three months since the nationwide closure of non-essential shops, thousands reopened last week, with restaurants, cinemas and museums and more to open from July 4.

Large retail stores across the country were welcomed by hundreds of eager shoppers as the Government continues to reduce lockdown restrictions.

In the EastLondonLines area, Lewisham Shopping Centre has reopened its 65 shops to the public.

However, not all customers were satisfied and the first day was described as a “nightmare” by one unhappy shopper.

In response, Paul Redden, the director of the Centre told Eastlondonlines: “The safety of our staff and guests is our number one priority. There are signs, floor stickers and digital advertising screens at our Lewisham Shopping Centre to remind people of the importance of keeping a safe distance apart. Our security teams and on site staff will also be reminding people of this.”

“We saw several thousand visitors yesterday at Lewisham Shopping Centre and would like to thank everyone who has observed our social distancing guidelines, used our hand sanitiser pumps and queued for entry. It’s really important to us that we can keep everyone safe.”

Similarly, Joanne Bailey, General Manager at Centrale, in Croydon, said: “It has been a really challenging time for everyone, and we are hugely grateful to the key workers that have done so much over the past few months.”

She later added: “We ask that people be patient with us though, as the way we shop is going to be different for a while, and visits might take longer than usual.”

In the centre of Hackney, shops were busy and queues also formed outside the Primark store in Narrow Way.

Will Heather talks to the owner of an East London fashion boutique facing an uncertain future.

Although large retailers are experiencing a surge of customers, the impact of COVID-19 on local independent businesses across London is uncertain.

In Broadway Market in Hackney, although the market stalls remain closed for the time being, Black Truffle, a women’s fashion boutique has re-opened with customers having pre-arranged time slots.

But Melissa Needham, the owner, told ELL she believes the smaller takings may not be sustainable: “I’m very worried that the revenue will not be enough to satisfy my overheads.”

The award-winning independent shop is more of an ‘experience’ for customers, Needham said. The product “secondary in a way”. But the experience will be different now, as she introduces time slots to minimise the amount of people visiting.

Needham has been trading since 2003, developing the business by herself after a successful spell making costumes and shoes in the West End, whilst also continuing to grow an overseas teaching practice.

The market and area has drastically changed over the last 17 years, ‘snowballing’ after London’s successful Olympic bid, with many more retail and coffee shops popping up.

The rush to get the economy moving is a ‘political issue’: “It’s linked. Whatever people think about how this lockdown has been dealt with, it seems to be forced by big businesses. The agenda is not coming from science.”

The Bank of England predicts the economy to shrink 14%, due to a lack of jobs and many fearing to go out. Needham later added: “Even if I don’t pay myself, which is my only source of income, the rent is an anchor round my neck.”

Rent for small business owners is also an underlying issue. She said: “It is a very stressful situation. In the scheme of things, lots of lives have been affected, so this message takes its place among other issues. But it is still a big problem in the waiting. Businesses are on the line, and may go under.”

Although, as with all others, she stopped trading in March, she has continued to pay full rent. She added: “People have taken out loans. Personal monies, drip by drip, will run out. I am absolutely sure that it is a problem that will affect a lot of livelihoods.”

She currently pays £33,300 a year to her landlord to operate her shop. However, her landlord refused to offer a reduction or holiday. However, under the Coronavirus Act, tenants are currently protected from eviction if unable to keep up with rent payments.

The Ministry of Housing back in March said: “Many landlords and tenants are already having conversations and reaching voluntary arrangements about rental payments due shortly but the government recognises businesses struggling with their cashflow due to coronavirus remain worried about eviction.”

However, Needham said more needed to be done by the Government: “A business like mine has been left out to dry. If the landlord is not willing to negotiate with me, what do I do?”