A major tourism hotspot is gearing up for the next stage of reopening and welcoming back businesses that have been closed for months.
For more than six months, hotels and attractions in Stratford-upon-Avon and across district have had their doors closed and been unable to host visitors.
Now that is about to change as from Monday, May 17 they will be making a return to the area as the Government continues with its roadmap to recovery.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council is looking forward to tourism and hospitality sector businesses being able to open up once more.
Cllr Matt Jennings, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Tourism at Stratford District Council, said: “It has been a long road for so many of our businesses in the district, but I am thrilled that we have reached this milestone and that we can get them all back open once again.
“The hospitality industry is very much part of the lifeblood of the district, so to have them back with Covid measures implemented is fantastic news.
“With their return, we hope to be welcoming back visitors, both locally and from across the country back to the area once again.
“We are one step closer to getting back to some sort of normality and I hope that we continue on this positive trajectory towards the June 21 date.”
Stratford-upon-Avon has already had a highly successful start to the reopening back in April when it was the turn of non-essential return, including the town’s markets.
Since then, the council and the markets team have received compliments for the organisation and atmosphere that has been created since the markets returned.
Dermot McGillicuddy, operational director from LSD Promotions, which organises the markets in the town, said: “It has been a wonderful first month for the markets and we are so pleased to be back in Stratford one again.
“We have had a real positive welcome back from shoppers and I think there is a real eagerness from visitors to get out and about and support all kinds of businesses in the town, not just the market.
“It is fantastic to see the town returning to some form of normality and we look forward to seeing people when they come along over the coming weeks and months.”
