Northampton private members club preparing to reopen after coronavirus lockdown - but the public aren't invited

It may not be open to the public but a private members club in Northampton is as excited as any other business preparing to reopen after the coronavirus lockdown.

Cheyne Walk Club has been shut to its members since mid-March for the first time in its 91-year history because of the Covid-19 pandemic but will be allowing customers again on Monday (July 6).

Vice-chairman James Tarry said they decided not to open on Saturday like most others 'as it could get messy' but the prospect of seeing other people again, from a safe distance, is something many are looking forward to.

"We'll be glad to get the place open again as it's not the same whatever you do, you realise how important face-to-face contact is," he said.

"There is some trepidation though as we don't know how it's going to work until we do it so there will certainly be some tweaks along the way."

Cheyne Walk Club was set up in 1929 by the Northampton Chamber of Commerce to provide a private place for the business community to socialise and unwind.

Even with its long history, James described the club as a 'hidden gem' in the town which provides free town centre parking, superfast WiFi, a private bar and meeting rooms.

The clubhouse on Cheyne Walk remained open during the Second World War but was closed by the coronavirus crisis on March 18, just before the official lockdown began.

The club is run by the members on a mostly voluntary basis so there were only a few staff members who were furloughed.

While members like James, a financial advisor, used their spare time to keep the social media pages ticking over and organising virtual quizzes.

A few self-employed members have kept using the offices during the lockdown but it will be reopening for snooker and drinks at tables only but no food just yet.

James said: "We'll have hand sanitisers at the front entrance and lines drawn out to help people navigate the building safely.

"Hopefully the weather will be decent and we can have people out in the garden and get the garden furniture out."

Snooker is a big part of the appeal at Cheyne Walk Club as James said many members are involved just for the sport, which naturally distances players.

Ultimately the club hopes they can provide a relatively safe place to socialise as everyone knows who is there and can be traced and with plenty of room to distance.

"I think more people want to come back to see a human face again and have a normal conversation rather than an online one," he said.