AFTER standing closed for the past eight months, Shirl’s Shakes has reopened on The Bank, in Barnard Castle.
Town entrepreneur Lisa Lapham is managing a venue which is popular with a mainly younger crowd and has given the shop a fresh new look.
The business was originally set up by Neil Stokell, former Teesdale District Council chief executive.
Ms Lapham said Mr Stokell still owns the business, but if all goes well in the coming months, she will look to buy it.
“We are friends with Neil, who now works down south, and we thought we would like to do something in the town,” explained Ms Lapham, who also runs a personalised gifts business from the home where she lives with husband Ben and the four children they share.
In addition to its range of shakes, the shop will also boast a Tango Ice Blast machine, which Ms Lapham expects to prove popular.
“There has been nothing really for the kids, so I think it will be a real treat for them, although you would be surprised how many adults like a milk shake,” she said.
Opening the business with coronavirus restrictions in place means initially, just one family at a time will be allowed into the shop and there will be two-metre social distancing marks on the pavement outside.
There will also be sanitizers and PPE available for staff.
Shirl’s Shakes is open noon to 8pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; and 3pm to 8pm Wednesdays and Thursdays.
