Features / Lockdown 2.0 Diaries
Lockdown 2.0 Diaries: BS22 – Kewstoke and Sand Bay
On a clear day, you can look across the water to see Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium from the window of The New Castle in Kewstoke.
The Welsh landmark is not quite visible on Thursday afternoon but the glistening blue water and long stretch of golden sand in the near distance make this a location with surely some of the most enviable views in Somerset.
Like many other businesses, the coffee bar, wine lounge and bistro on Kewstoke Road has been affected by the ongoing impact of coronavirus. The announcement that the area will be moving into tier three when lockdown ends on December 2 has meant a raft of cancelled bookings, including a wedding, at what would usually have been a busy time.
is needed now More than ever
“It’s disappointing, we’d hoped we’d be in tier two,” says owner Dave Palmer.
The New Castle is open for takeaway in Kewstoke
Despite the latest blow, Dave and his wife, Anne, remain upbeat and say they are lucky to own the building and have a steady passing trade of walkers, cyclists and locals stopping by for takeaway.
While they are unable to have people dining inside, Dave and Anne are supporting local crafts businesses and a vast table is laden with gifts to buy from Reed & Glow and Down on the Land.
They also use local suppliers in the restaurant and one of the tempting displays on the counter has the label ‘best mince pies’.
“They’re made by a local lady,” says Anne, packaging two up in a pink and white paper bag, along with a small carton of clotted cream to takeaway. (I can since vouch that these mince pies take some beating).
The view from The New Castle in Kewstoke
St Paul’s Church on the hill in Kewstoke
The scenic village was packed on the weekend as people from the surrounding area flocked to the coast during lockdown. But on Thursday afternoon, all is quiet except for a couple of people walking their dogs along the road and two mud-spattered mountain bikers descending from Weston Woods.
A chalkboard outside The New Inn on Crookes Road promotes a pub quiz, but the doors remain closed and the latest announcement on tiers mean they won’t be reopening on December 2. Queenies hair salon opposite is also shut for now.
Down the hill, a few children play in the park after school while a horse rider coaxes her reluctant steed past a large van on the corner. Customers pop in and out of the village shop, outside of which a range of fresh fruit and veg is displayed.
Kewstoke village is quiet on Thursday afternoon
Royal Oak Stores remains open for supplies in Kewstoke
A father Christmas in the window of the shop adds some festive cheer and the newspaper stand opposite is full of the latest Covid-19 news and tributes to footballer Diego Maradona.
At Sand Bay, people make the most of the late afternoon as they stroll along the dunes, past quiet holiday parks and houses.
“How come London is in tier two then?” asks a man before answering his own question. “It’s because all the rich people are there isn’t it?”
The tier three announcement has come as a blow to many in this North Somerset community.
Dave Rosenthal, the owner of Sand Bay Tea Rooms, stands by his kiosk in the car park at Sand Bay
Dave Rosenthal, the owner of Sand Bay Tea Rooms, stands by the kiosk he also runs in the car park on Sand Road. The restrictions mean he won’t be reopening the tea rooms – much to the dismay of a regular customer who has stopped by for a chat – but the kiosk operates a steady trade of hot drinks, ice creams and more.
It may be takeaway only here but there is a stack of proper mugs on the counter in the kiosk as part of a bid to cut down on disposable cups for those who can bring them back.
On the dunes opposite, an elderly couple sit on a bench, a flask of coffee, two china cups and a muffin between them. Wearing masks around their neck, they sip their drinks in companionable silence, looking out to sea.
Sunset at Sand Bay
Dogs frolic happily down on the sand while their owners pause for a socially distanced chat, and a couple walk hand in hand towards the setting sun.
On the path, a man waits patiently staring out across the dunes while his companion lines up the perfect sunset shot on her mobile.
Heading back along the country lanes to Bristol, past farmyards and holiday parks, a fine mist floats above the fields as dusk turns to darkness.
All photos by Ellie Pipe
Read more: Lockdown 2.0 Diaries: Clevedon
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