Cheltenham beauty salon prepares to welcome back clients after "tough few months"
Lily P's will join hundreds of beauty salons in Gloucestershire reopening after lockdown on Monday
The owner of a Cheltenham beauty salon says she can't wait to welcome back customers after "a tough few months" in lockdown.
Lily Porter, owner of Lily P's in St Mark's, Cheltenham, says the last couple of months have been "a real struggle" whilst trying to survive during the third national lockdown.
But from Monday the salon will be welcoming back clients as the coronavirus restrictions ease allowing non-essential retail, pubs, cafes, restaurants, gyms and beauty salons to re-open.
21 year-old Lily Porter, owner of Lily P's, said:
"As a whole it's been quite a struggle. I've still had to pay rent in full and all the bills as well.
"I did get a few grants from the Government which really helped and I probably wouldn't have been able to survive without it.
"From Monday I'm just trying to take every day as it comes really, stay optimistic because since the first lockdown we soon realised nothing was going to be normal.
"I can't wait to see my clients, you just build up such a relationship with them and I'm looking forward to getting back to making people smile".
Although many beauty salons will be gearing up to welcome back clients, for some the pandemic has been too much to bear and has forced them to sell stock and close.
Lily continued:
"I can probably count about six of seven businesses that have been perfectly fine and then after this lockdown they've now been forced to sell their stock and close which is really sad.
"I just really hope this is the last one but I am more positive with the vaccines being rolled out as well and hopefully this will mean we won't have to close again".
During lockdown Lily P's has also undergone a small make over of its own with new signs being put up.
Lily says she "can't wait to see her clients" and welcome back for their much-loved beauty therapies.