THERE was much excitement in Middlewich on Monday morning, when non essential shops were allowed to throw up their shutters and trade again

For local woman Julianne Platt, the moment couldn't come soon enough, as she waited outside for the doors to ladies fashion boutique Pretty Perfect to re-open.

"It's just nice to see everything re-opening again," she said.

"The energy of Middlewich is going to be back and so is the community spirit.

"It's also good that there are new shops opening in the town.

"It's just great that all the shops, hairdressers and pubs can re-open and it will be good to see the town busy again.

"I just hope people choose to shop local."

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Julianne had already placed her order online, but being able to shop in person again was something she was very much looking forward to.

"Stuart is just fantastic," she added.

"You're not just coming into to shop, you're coming in for a chat and a catchup and its brilliant.

"It's nice to have friends who are shop owners and have that interaction."

Northwich Guardian: Julianne Platt is the first customer at Pretty Perfect.

Julianne Platt was the first customer at Pretty Perfect.

For owner Stuart Leeman, the easing in restrictions came as a great relief, having only opened for the first time last September and trading for just two months before lockdown brought the fledgling business to a halt.

He said: "Last night I felt like a child on Christmas Eve, I was so excited about being able to re-open again.

"I was up at about six this morning, taking the dogs for a walk early and just making sure the house was all set and being all ready and eager to come in.

"I was shut for the whole of November, before opening on December 5, but I've been closed since December 27.

"Obviously we've been able to put things online and done big discounts as we wanted to try give something back.

"But it was just a case of anxiously waiting to hear when we could finally re-open.

"We've been really busy over the last month getting everything ready, doing bits and pieces of decorating and things like that."

Northwich Guardian: Stuart Leeman was delighted to be able to re-open the doors to his boutique Pretty Perfect.

Stuart was delighted to be able to re-open the doors to his boutique Pretty Perfect.

Stuart, who moved to the area from his native Belfast about five years ago, said he was looking forward to seeing the town's friendly faces once again.

He said: "Everyone in Middlewich is just so friendly.

"The amount of ladies I've got who are just passing and will pop in to say hello

"I've built up a really good reputation and a good friendship with the locals of Middlewich and I've also got people coming form other nearby towns, such as Knutsford and Nantwich.

"So that makes me feel that at least I must be doing something right.

"There aren't many men who own a ladies clothing boutique."

Northwich Guardian:

Stuart only opened the shop in September and is looking forward to seeing his customers again.

Having spent so much of the lockdown at home, Stuart is hoping the government is good on its word and that this will be last time it happens, with the sunny weather making things feel even more optimistic.

"It feels like we've been in lockdown for around fives years," he said.

"I don't think the economy would be able to take another lockdown.

"The sun puts smiles on faces and with everything starting to re-open, it will be good, not just for businesses, but for everyone's mental health.

"Being stuck looking at four walls every day isn't good for anybody."