Coronavirus: The shops still open in Kirkcaldy’s town centre

The UK Government has ordered all “non-essential” businesses to close in bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus, leaving just a handful of doors open on the Lang Toun’s main shopping area.

The Post Office on the High Street is open with a full range of services on offer, but manager Muhammad Akhtar said the store was reducing its hours from 9am-3pm, Monday to Friday, closing at 1pm on Saturday.

“We want to play our part in the community, he said, “so we want to stay open for the Post Office and the shop as well.

“As we are the main Post Office in the area we offer services that may not be available in smaller branches, so when the shop is open from 9-3, the Post Office is fully operational.

The shop is also offering a free delivery service to vulnerable customers.

“We will deliver to them without any extra charges,” Muhammad said, “we’ll deliver bread, milk and whatever else is needed. We had a couple of deliveries today.”

Over from the Post Office, whilst Cupcake Coffee Box is closed along with all other cafe and restaurants, the Puddledub Butcher’s Shop in the same building has kept its doors open.

Owner Kevin McArthur said: “We’re keeping the same opening hours, 9am-5.30pm, Monday to Saturday.

“It’s going quite well but I’m not sure many people know we’re open and it’s obviously quite quiet down here anyway.

“I have a few regulars coming in but some are phoning because we’re running a delivery service. It’s been really busy and I’m trying my best to keep on top of it.”

Specsavers is opening by appointment only, and even then only for emergencies, whilst further along the street Savers and Holland and Barrett are open, the former from 9am-4pm, whilst the health food store is opening from Monday to Sunday from 10am-4pm, with only two customers allowed in at one time.

Boots is opening for “pharmacy medicines and essentials only” from 9.30am-4.30pm, closing for an hour between 1-2pm, whilst on Sunday it opens from 12-4pm.

The TSB is running a reduced service from 10am-4pm, Monday to Saturday, closing between 1.30-2.30pm, whilst the Nationwide Building Society is also offering a reduced service from 10am-2pm as is the Bank of Scotland.

In the Mercat, as well as Boots staying open, the only other stores remaining are Vision Express, entering from the High Street, Home bargains and Poundland.

McColl’s newsagent remains open, albeit only allowing three customers in at any time, as does the Deli and News Express, from Monday to Saturday, 10am-5pm, with the same number of customers allowed and at the end of the street, B & M is opening from 9am-6pm.

Back along in the Merchants’ Quarter, the Nickel and Dime store is open seven days a week, from 11am-4pm, whilst a Touch of Poland is also open with restrictions on the amount of customers.

Finally, newsagent Harbour News is running with reduced opening hours from 9am-4pm, Monday to Saturday.