"It’s a little like going back to shopping the way it was in the 1950s!"

That was the comment from Lucy Iles, one of the 160-plus independent traders in Rochester High Street.

The town centre is unusual in that it has only five national chain businesses, including Costa and Subway.

But remarkably, the tight-knit community has grown even closer since coronavirus restrictions came in, with some small privately-run shops remaining open and offering takeaway services.

Lucy, whose family run the Francis Iles arts and craft gallery and shop, is behind the Rochester High Street Association of Businesses which was set up last year.

She said: "With Covid-19, and the restrictions closing the majority of High Street businesses, this sense of team work is now absolutely vital."

The group had been working on marketing campaigns, offering support to each other, getting together for social gatherings and handing out High Street Hero badges to loyal customers.

And fortunately, just weeks before the pandemic hit the UK, it had formed a WhatsApp group of 40 traders and got a Visit Rochester.UK Facebook up and running.

Shane Waterman, who up until just over a week ago ran Rochester History Walking Tours, has been key in setting up the social media site which gives daily bulletins on who's open and what services they are providing during the crisis.

He said: "Rochester is unique. It must be the only High Street in England where there is such a high proportion of independent retailers, which is probably why we have adapted so quickly.

"Restaurants have switched to takeaways and many are doing home deliveries for those who can't get out."

He added that other businesses had come on board, such as Mick's MOT's in Gas House Road open especially to test vehicles of NHS staff. Further afield Medway Computers, on Medway City Estate, has offered to carry out repairs for equipment as more work from home.

The Spanish and Latin American restaurant Rico Sabor has turned into a food store with staff doing early morning market runs to get fresh provisions, including eggs, meat, pasta and tomatoes.

Austen's the Greengrocers, Morley's bakery, Castle Food and Wine, Newlands newsagents and Johnson's hardware shop have also kept their doors open.

As Mukesh, the owner of Newlands, said: "It's not about making money as we have given our service for the last 31 years in this High Street."

Shane, 58, who lives in Rochester, said: "We have not let this defeat us. We we have got to maximise on this. We have got to hit the ground running when restrictions are lifted.

"We have already come up with some ideas, like vouchers or getting money off your parking if you spend £10 or more in a shop."

Lucy added: "One thing is for sure - Rochester's independent retailers will need more High Street Heroes than ever before to support the High Street after the current crisis is over, but they will find a High Street that is resilient and bonded together - working hard, as always, for its customers and community."

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