The sun was shining, children were playing on the Lawn – and the shops, cafes and hairdressers were, finally, open again.

There was a real feeling of relief and optimism in the air on Tuesday, April 13, the day after 'non-essential' traders were able to welcome customers back for the first time since the latest lockdown began on January 5.

It's not quite back to normal, of course. Masks are being worn indoors, shop interiors have been rearranged to enable social distancing, there are one-way systems in place and restrictions on the numbers of customers inside at any one time.

And, until the next signpost on the 'roadmap to recovery' on May 17, pubs and other hospitality venues can't serve customers indoors.

But most of the traders Dawlish Nub News spoke to yesterday said business had been brisk so far, with people glad to be able to enjoy their town centre again.

What the shopkeepers said about reopening

Andy at Curios said: "It's been really good, loads of smiley people about, and I had a cracking day yesterday."

Jackie, behind the counter at Number Seventeen, said: "Yesterday felt like our first day back at school, it was that sort of nervous excitement, but it was lovely.

"People were so chatty and happy to be here, and it's been nice to see local people, to be able to speak to them and welcome them back – and it's really quite busy."

At Ten Green Bottles, Helen said: "It's absolutely fantastic to be open again. I'd say business has been slow and steady, but it's much busier than we'd normally be in April.

"It feels like everybody's mood has lifted, the sun's shining and everybody's happy - and people are spending, too."

Wendy at The Puzzled Sweet Shop agreed, saying many shoppers have been wanting to buy sweets and treats as a kind of celebration.

At Presents, Ali said: "It's great to be back, and everyone's so happy to see us back."

However, Ian Jones at the Take The Bait fishing tackle shop was less enthusiastic, saying not all customers were obeying the social distancing rules.

He said: "It doesn't feel very good, I don't feel secure, I don't feel good about it. These punters, they're just letting the side down, there's lots of it."

A busy few months on the way

Some traders expressed concern that the 'roadmap to recovery' could hit a dead end, with another lockdown after the summer, but said they hoped the town would at least have benefited from some regeneration during the tourist season.

One part of that regeneration is taking place at the former Ladbroke's building next to the Shoe Centre. The former shopfront has been stripped away and lots of building work is going on in preparation for The Farm Shop in Teignmouth to open a branch there, run by Darren Lakin.

The building is owned by Sean of The Shoe Centre, who said the Farm Shop is just the kind of business the town centre needs, and he's very pleased to see Darren moving in and revitalising the long-empty unit, which is due to open on or around May 1.

Sean's own shop has also had a facelift prior to reopening, with new blinds and frontage, and he's actively using his contacts to try and bring new traders into Dawlish – with his sights currently set on a fishmongers or daily fresh fish stall.