Looking for a holiday? How South Shields travel agent is preparing to re-open on Monday, June 15

Award-winning agency, Westoe Travel is preparing to welcome customers through the doors from next week.

Up until now staff have been helping holiday-makers with online and telephone bookings from home, but as of Monday, June 15, people can book an appointment slot for a face-to-face appointment.

The office on Westoe Road, has been rearranged in keeping with social distancing guidelines and only one individual or couple will be allowed in the shop at one time.

The‌ ‌Government‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌that‌ ‌all‌ ‌non-essential‌ ‌retailers‌ ‌will‌ ‌be‌ ‌able‌ ‌to‌ ‌reopen‌ ‌from‌ ‌Monday, ‌as‌ ‌long‌ ‌as‌ ‌they‌ ‌can‌ ‌comply‌ ‌with‌ ‌’Covid-secure‌ ‌guidance’.‌ ‌ ‌

‌It‌ ‌comes‌ ‌as‌ ‌the ‌Gazette’s‌ ‌Support‌ ‌Local‌ ‌campaign‌ ‌is calling‌ ‌on‌ ‌everyone‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌borough‌ to get behind local‌ ‌businesses‌ ‌and‌ ‌help‌ ‌them‌ ‌survive‌ ‌as‌ ‌lockdown‌ ‌restrictions‌ ‌are‌ ‌eased‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌economy slowly starts up again.

Westoe Travel – which has been run by husband and wife by Graeme and Joan Brett for 31 years – has also announced the launch of its own UK tour operator to cope with demand from people wanting breaks closer to home.

It comes as iconic UK travel companies such as Shearings and National Holidays recently folded due to the impact of the pandemic.

Director Graeme, said: “We are very conscious that there will be an increased demand for UK Breaks over the next 12 months.

"As a result we now have an additional Tour Operator membership with ABTA that will allow us to package rail and coach holidays.”

He added: “We will of course continue to work with our other UK Tour Operator partners and we will not be competing with them in any way, but are seeking to fill the gaps left by the loss of Superbreak, Shearings and National Holidays.

“This is a really exciting time for us and we are confident that we will have the best possible range of products for our customers wanting UK Breaks.”

Anyone wanting to inquire about holidays in the shop should contact 0191 455 2292 to make an appointment.

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