SHOP keepers and cafe owners in Marlborough are starting to emerge from lockdown by opening their doors and doing trade through hatches. Some are also using the time to have a re fit, while others have even extended their premises since the doors closed in March.

Rainbow hardware store has a wallpaper pasting table as a hatch.

“We have been trying this for a couple of weeks,” said owner of the family run store Jigs Patel. “We have had such a great reception from people as well,” he said. “All this running and getting things for people is keeping me fit!”

Marlborough’s sweet tooth has also been catered for over lockdown, as Marlborough confectioner’s Emma Waring Jones has been overwhelmed with requests for her home delivery sweet boxes. “The hot weather has certainly brought people out. It is just so nice to see families out smiling and they usually do smile when buying ice cream so it has been lovely.”

Other well known Marlborough establishments are also getting into the hatch action.

Rich Holman of the Food Gallery is offering take away coffees and even has Food Gallery branded face masks.

“We are keeping things ticking over,” he said. “And we are figuring out how to move the seating around inside.”

Joe Bunce says he has used the time to extend the popular Bunce’s cafe, creating an additional upstairs area. And The Marlborough has kept takeaways running seven days a week throughout lockdown - from the front door.