How some Northwich businesses are finding life after lockdown

Two hampers are on offer over the next two weeks, with prizes totalling more than £300.

It is part of the Guardian's Backing Local Business campaign – shining a spotlight on mid Cheshire businesses that are adapting to life in the pandemic.

Patrons of the Salty Dog had to wait a little longer than other bars to reopen, as owner Chris Mundie and his team put the finishing touches to the socially-distanced bar, including a new tiki beer garden.

He said: “It has been really good. It’s not been mega busy but it has been steady and people have been very good with doing things in the new way.”

“We are as positive as we can be given the fact that nobody really knows what’s going on. We have just got to wait until the rules are relaxed to the point where we can do more of the things that we used to.”

The venue has been successful in the first round of applying for Arts Council funding, and if successful in the next round it means money will be available to run entertainment events at a reduced capacity.

Chris said: “What the Arts Council would do is subsidise shows so we can operate at a reduced capacity without going broke.

Chris and his team did plenty of work to get the Salty Dog ready for reopening

“We can only have 30 people, where we would normally be selling 70 to 80 tickets to break even.”

The winner of this week’s hamper will get four tickets to the bar’s monthly comedy night, which usually feature a more established comedian on the circuit, as well as up and coming comedians.

They will also receive a free cut and finish at Crate Hair, the gentlemen’s salon run by Charles Rose, which has been welcoming customers back in recent weeks.

He said: “We have got to use visors and masks, and so have the clients, but they have been great with it all and I think the town is slowly getting busier.

“I am hoping throughout the next couple of weeks when the kids have been back for a bit there is no rise in the R rate and people can be a bit more brave.

Charles Rose from Crate

“We are a gents’ hairdressing salon. We don’t just use clippers, we mostly use scissors, we wash hair and we give out a drink when we can – but not at the moment with Covid-19.”

“You get more of an experience here than in a traditional barbers.”

The winner will also receive a £10 voucher for George’s Butchers in Weaverham, which has seen a rise in customers during the pandemic.

Butcher George Abbott said: “People are not going out to the supermarket as much, I think every butcher has noticed that to be fair, and all the customers have loved the meat.”

“If people don’t use these shops they will lose them, so that has been a boost.”

George Abbott at his Weaverham butchers shop

Other prizes up for grabs in this week's hamper include a meal for two and bottle of wine at the new 20 London Road food market, a £30 voucher to spend at Apparel, a Nike football from Sports Direct and a £15 voucher to spend at BEAR coffee shop and cocktail bar.

To enter, pick up a copy of the Guardian in stores from today, September 3.