Get ready for the return of Greggs as North East favourite prepares to reopen 800 stores

The bakery chain has opened a select number of its counters across the region as it starts to trade again following the Government’s decision to close restaurants and cafes to try and stop the spread of the coronavirus.

This has included one at Prince Edward Road in The Nook in South Shields, another on Bede Trading Estate and its shop off Springwell Road in Sunderland, which have seen customers queue outside using social distancing measures since they opened once again earlier this month.

They are said to be among the dozen taking part in the trials, which are now set to be ramped up.

The firm has not officially put a figure on the number of shops it will open, but it is understood to be planning to serve from around 800 of its 2,050 locations across the country.

A spokesperson for the company, which runs around 2,050 shops across the country, said: "We have planned and delivered robust shop trials using our new operational safety measures and they have progressed well allowing us to now move to open an increased number of our shops from mid-June.”

Government guidance has slowly become less strict after the country was forced into lockdown at the end of March.

Many restaurants have remained closed through the period, with some opening for takeaways.

However, the sector has started showing some signs of recovery, as Government rules relaxed.

In Sunderland, KFC reopened its branch in Pennywell last week, leading to long queues at the weekend as people collected takeaways, with deliveries also available.

Earlier this month, McDonald's started reopening its British stores, starting with 15 in and around London.

Starbucks also reopened 150 of its stores earlier in the month.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that non-essential stores, including clothes stores, will be able to re-open from the middle of the month, as long as they adhere to social distancing rules.

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