Come on in! Matlock hospitality businesses prepare to welcome customers back inside

The town’s hospitality businesses have been counting down the days for indoor service to resume, after lockdown three forced businesses to close on January 5.

Though some hospitality businesses have operated takeaway services, and many have offered outdoor service with gazebos and patio heaters since April 12, the opportunity to socialise inside – and out of the British weather – is a welcome step back to normality for many.

Rob Short, owner of Twenty Ten Bar at 16 Dale Road had to close in October 2020 but has provided a weekend takeaway service for craft beer lovers, and is itching to welcome customers back inside.

Tracy Miller is the owner of Millers Bar and Grill

Rob said: “Being able to meet, eat and drink with friends inside is an important step back to normality. It has been a long and difficult year for many people in many different ways, and doing something as normal as nipping into a bar for some food and drink is a simple pleasure that will feel so much more significant now.”

He added: “With the enforced time away, we have taken the opportunity to look at all aspects of our business. We have changed our food offering to include many more plant based and gluten free options and we’ve added a brand new food offering to our late afternoons and early evenings, including freshly made pizza and nachos and wings.

“We’ve also introduced a dedicated “Happy Hour” - every day from 5-6pm you can enjoy some great savings on our drinks range, including two cocktails for the price of one. However, some things will remain as they are; Twenty Ten has a great reputation for live music at the weekends, and that will be back just as soon as allowed.”

Tracy Miller is the owner of Millers Bar and Grill, at 66A Dale Road. She said: “We can’t wait to open our doors again at Millers on Wednesday 19 May. Our chef Paul has been making some changes to the menu, keeping the favourites that everyone loves, but also introducing new lunch options and new vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Owner and baker at Butter Fingers - Alex Bromley

"We will be here for all our customers special occasions, from birthday parties to baby showers and we also can’t wait to welcome back customers with their fur babies, we’re very dog friendly and we love to spoil our four legged visitors! To be able to welcome people back inside is such a special feeling and I’m really excited at the prospect.”

Number 109 Dale Road is home to Butter Fingers, a cafe and bakery which provides coffee, cake, and celebration cakes to order as well as breakfast and lunch options.

Owner and baker Alex Bromley says she can’t wait to put out the welcome mat for customers old and new. She said: “Throughout the lockdown, we’ve worked hard to stay connected with our customers and we’ve been able to provide cakes, brownie boxes and other treats for special occasions including Valentine’s Day and Mothers’ Day.

"As a result, we’ve felt really supported by our friends and customers. However, we came to 109 Dale Road to run a café as well as the bakery and it has been so sad that that side of the business has had to stay closed for so long.”

She added: “After such a long time without customers in the café it feels really uplifting to be able to welcome them in. We’re optimistic about the future, we’re actually hiring at the moment! Dale Road has so many wonderful independent shops and eateries and it will be great to see the street take another step towards normality after this next stage of opening up.”