Alnwick retailer hopes people will remember their pledge to shop local

An Alnwick cheese shop owner is starting to see signs of recovery in the town’s retail economy.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Marie McArdle, who runs The Cheese Room at the Alnwick Deli on Paikes Street, is pleased to see shoppers beginning to return to the town as the coronavirus lockdown eases.

She said: “Trade is probably only about half of what we might expect at this time of the year but it's definitely picking up and we're getting a lot more visitors now.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“A lot of people have been saying they will shop local now so I hope that turns out to be the case.

Marie McArdle at The Cheese Room in Alnwick.Marie McArdle at The Cheese Room in Alnwick.
Marie McArdle at The Cheese Room in Alnwick.

“It’s lovely being open again and people have missed us.”

Marie has also been pleased to see customers taking note of social distancing measures introduced at the shop.

“I’ve found that people in Alnwick have been very good,” she said. “I’ve got a one-way system in place at the shop and hand sanitiser gel and wipes by the door.

“We have got to look after ourselves and our customers.”

She has also welcomed the government support given to small businesses like hers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I think the government has been good so far in helping little businesses like mine,” she said. “I got grant support through Northumberland County Council within three days of applying for it so that was a big relief.”

The Cheese Room sell over 70 of the finest local and continental cheeses, as well a range of hampers and cheeseboards.

The Northumberland Gazette is campaigning for people to #SupportLocal to help the local economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Read More
‘It’s like Christmas Day!’ – pubs and hairdressers reopen after lockdown

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.