Melton’s iconic pork pie shop set to reopen

The historic Nottingham Street business, which is a magnet for tourists searching for an authentic Melton Mowbray pork pie, will be open for reduced hours at first and with a restricted range of products.

Of the 28 members of staff who were furloughed - where the govenment pays 80 per cent of an employee’s wage - 10 are returning to work.

But there will be strict measures in place in the shop in a bid to limit the spread of Covid-19 among both customers and staff.

Managing director, Stephen Hallam, who has continued to work doing jobs including admin and cleaning, told the Melton Times: “We took the view that we would not reopen the shop until we were very, very confident that we have a safe place for our own people and our customers to come to.

“It’s extremely sensible to assume that we are not going to trade at pre-Covid levels and it will probably take us six months to do that but we have had a lot of people asking us when we are going to reopen.

“There are some people who say businesses will do very well to reach 50 per cent of revenue from pre-Covid times but I like a challenge and I hope we can do much better than that.”

The shop, which closed on March 23, has sold a small range of products from its shop door on the last few Tuesdays but it will be a very different proposition to open what is a small shop unit to customers while maintaining safe social distancing of two metres between each person.

Food production employees will wear personal protective equipment and screens will be in place to protect sales staff. Touch points, such as telephones, computer screens and door handles will be cleaned every hour.

Mr Hallam said: “It is a real logistical challenge and an incredible amount of staff briefing needs to go on.

“We will have a one-way system and we are allowing only two customers in the shop at any one time with a staff member regulating it on the door.”

He anticipates footfall will be down because some people will be reluctant to shop while there are still concerns remaining over contracting coronavirus and he feels traders should be helped as much as possible in the current economic climate.

“I understand free car parking will continue in the town until June 15 but as traders we would all like to see that continue for longer to encourage people into town,” added Mr Hallam.

Customers can visit the Dickinson and Morris shop tomorrow, Friday and Saturday from 8am to 2pm, and on Wednesday and Thursday opening between 10am and 2pm.

As well as pork pies, fresh bread, rolls, pasties and sausage rolls there will be a range of hot and cold takeaway products including filled baps.

The news was welcomed by Matthew O’Callaghan, of the Melton Mowbray Food Partnership.

He said: “It’s great news that the pie shop is reopening.

“A lot of people have missed the shop and of course the pies.

“The return of Melton’s flagship retailer is another small step towards some sort of normality.”