Enter the shopfitters

The first part of the downstairs rebuild is pretty well complete now. The carpenters have been replacing any rotten sections of panelling with sympathetic replacements. To make this more effective, some sections have been moved from one room to another, so the café has entirely original panelling, with all the new stuff going into the treatment room.

The electricians have also been busy installing the downstairs lighting.

You can also see the frame for the automatic doors that will greet you when you enter through the double doors. The black padding is only to prevent them being damaged and will be gone soon.

It's hard to believe, but both the builders and the shopfitters agree that the shop and café will be ready on the 22nd. New stock is beginning to arrive so we can make a bit of a splash when we open.

We've awarded a contract for traditional signwriting. The previous signs were made of vinyl and have been difficult to remove - so much so that we've had to put a plywood front on some of the signs - but the new ones will be handpainted, just as they would have been 172 years ago when the Globe was opened.