Out and About Spring 2021

FOOD & DRINK – HONESTY ROMILLA ARBER looks forward to the spring and hopefully the easing of lockdown restrictions, so we can get out and enjoy life’s simple pleasures

S pring is upon us and I do not think there has been a time when a new season has heralded such feelings of hope and optimism. After almost a year in full or partial lockdowns we are all pinning our hopes on a brighter time. There will undoubtedly be future challenges for us to face as a nation and as a participant on this planet, but perhaps we will be more resilient and be able to face them with a different mindset. I think most of us will certainly be more circumspect about what we cherish as important and what we feel we can do without. If we can feel the sun on our backs and be with the ones we love, do we need to jump on an aeroplane and suffer the stress and expense of foreign travel? Who knows – time will tell. I know I am missing some very simple things. I miss the occasional coffee in a coffee shop, a freshly-baked croissant, the chance to catch up with friends, hugs and warm embraces, sitting in a bar having that first glass of wine, watching Spurs play football in North London or enjoying a meal out. Pre March 2020 these were considered inconsequential, everyday enjoyments.

Post pandemic they will feel like such special moments. At Honesty we have been locked up and closed since before Christmas. That doesn’t mean that things have not been happening behind the scenes. We are getting ready to launch a new patisserie range of products in some of our shops, a new vegan range and some beautiful new breads. We have been working on a schedule of events in most of our sites, events that celebrate the communities in which we operate and which I hope will bring some much-needed enjoyment to our customers. We also have some really exciting new openings to announce in due course. Spring does feel like a new dawn for us, as I am sure it will feel to a lot of businesses. The pandemic has brought such unquantifiable loss and hardship to so many people that to talk about it without acknowledging this and the hard work and dedication of key workers seems wrong. Please rest assured that as we start to resume our normal lives we will not forget the sacrifice, loss and hard work of the minority for the majority, a heartwarming affirmation of society operating as it should.

As the spring turns into summer, we can enjoy the good weather and be able to meet up with friends and family and the Honesty cafés will be ready and waiting to greet you with their fresh baked goods

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