SPINNING Gate Shopping Centre said it was "fantastic to see our customers return" as all retail outlets were able to reopen their doors this week as the lockdown was eased.

The Leigh shopping centre welcomed the re-opening of its non essential stores on Monday, in line with Step 2 of UK Government restrictions.

Non-essential retail, hairdressers, pub beer gardens and pavement cafes were among the premises to reopen on Monday as the coronavirus lockdown restrictions were relaxed.

Spinning Gate, which hosts 35 retail stores in Leigh town centre had continued to remain open during all three national lockdowns of the coronavirus pandemic, but on Monday morning safely welcomed the opening of all its non essential stores.

Spinning Gate

Spinning Gate

More than 10,000 shoppers visited the centre during the day and were excited to see the stores again and shop locally.

Karen Cox, centre manager, said: “Spinning Gate Shopping Centre and all our stores wish an incredibly warm welcome back to our shoppers.

"It is fantastic to see our customers return, supporting and shopping local safely in centre with us. Our stores are packed with new season collections and store staff are excited to deliver excellent customer service whilst providing an incredibly warm welcome to shoppers.

"The centre team and store staff have all worked tirelessly ensuring the centre and our stores are 'Covid-safe', in preparation for the safe re-opening of non essential shops.

"The step two measures contained within the Government roadmap out of lockdown is one step closer to normality.

"The past 12 months have been incredibly difficult and turbulent for retailers, but our shoppers in Leigh remain fiercely loyal and passionate about our town and continue to support all the businesses within."

The team at Jetz Travel awaiting to welcome customers back into their stores

The team at Jetz Travel awaiting to welcome customers back into their stores

When non-essential stores remained closed throughout the third lockdown, store staff were placed on furlough (the Government's Job Retention Scheme), but on Monday they returned to their jobs and eagerly await the return of shoppers in their stores.

Spinning Gate Shopping Centre has implemented enhanced measures to ensure the safety of all its shoppers, store staff, the centre team and to minimise the risk of transmission whilst in centre. The centre cleaning and security teams have been issued with additional PPE (personal protective equipment) to ensure they complete their tasks safely and are all wearing High Visibility uniform to help shoppers identify them should they require any assistance or reassurance whilst visiting the centre.

The centre has also increased the frequency of the cleaning regime of all mall touch points and, to comply with current advice, the centre is ventilating the centre daily, opening the mall window vents and opening the mall entrance doors to minimise shopper contact with them. Similarly, stores have also implemented such additional measures to help ensure the safety of their customers.

At times, shoppers may be requested to queue outside stores, to ensure stores comply with maximum store capacity numbers, whilst maintaining a safe shopping environment.

Spinning Gate Shopping Centre reminds shoppers to stay local and shop safely and to continue to wear face coverings, refrain from eating and drinking whilst in the centre, remain a safe distance from each other, and to continue to follow Government guidelines.

The shopping centre would like to thank their shoppers for their loyalty and patience during all three National lockdown measures and for continuing to shop in centre safely.

  • A full list of stores which are now re-open in centre is available on the Spinning Gate Centre social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn), and on its website: spinninggate.co.uk .