Burns the Bread reopens Street shop with customers being served from a table at the door

Local family bakers Burns the Bread reopened their Street shop today (May 12), serving customers from a table by the door.

Burns the Bread are opening their shops in stages, with the Street store the third to reopen, with a range of their most popular products being available.

Initially the opening times will be from 9am until 3pm, and they will adapt and change as necessary, and will be dictated by the needs of the customers.

Owner Bob Burns told Street Nub News: "We will be operating with two members of staff, one of which will be the manager Fiona.

"Fiona has been with the business since we first opened in the village some 25 years ago. She will be supported by Daisy, who is currently our manager of our Glastonbury store."

Burns the Bread have been baking in Glastonbury since 1983, since taking over the established business of H J Janes and Sons, and there has been a bakery at the Glastonbury High Street site for more than 200 years.

The business has three generations of the family involved with daily operations, and currently has a workforce of around 70.

Their first store in Street opened in 1995, initially situated in Farm Road. About five years later they moved to their current location next to Lloyds Bank in the High Street.

Bob said the decision to close the business at such short notice for the lockdown was not an easy one to take.

However, given the government's guidance at that time, and with the welfare of staff and customers at the forefront of his mind, he felt that he had little option.

He said: "Many independent businesses, particularly in the retail sector, are having a really tough time.

"Some have adapted more successfully than others, and have been able to replace some of their retail sales with an online offering.

"Many retail businesses have benefited from the government's support schemes and, of course, the opportunity to furlough staff in the short term has been extremely helpful. But, for many, they will have very uncertain futures."

However, Bob said the loyalty of customers in Street and the other shops has shone through, and has urged everyone to help each other out.

"We have always felt that we have been an integral part of the local communities that we serve," he said.

"We have always been well supported by our loyal customers over the years, enabling us to do many good works and give much support to local organisations.

"Our local businesses and communities are important components of the local social fabric. In these unprecedented times and beyond, if we can give support to one another, it makes life a little bit better for everyone."

For everything you need to know about Street and coronavirus, click here.