With hoards of onlookers and traffic everywhere, the town is normally teaming at this time of year, but one of the saving graces of experiencing quite the opposite at the moment, is the opportunity to paint, renovate, spruce up and decorate.
It seems that around every corner the scaffolders and painters are invading, but what a great time to get things done, far less hazards around and, with lockdown seemingly with us for the foreseeable future, there is plenty of time to do a good job.
Down at the sheds on Strand Quay a new scaffold tower has been erected and work there is soon to be underway, and at Webbes Fish Café where there are works being carried out at the top of the building. On the High Street, there is a collection of varying trades at different stages of refurbishment and decoration with ladders on both sides of the road and the smell of fresh paint lingering.
Café Zara is getting quite a makeover whilst Britcher and Rivers now looks resplendent in bright white gloss paint.
The Devil in Rye has also had the decorators in, and Rye Chocolates and Soldiers of Rye have had ladders up too. The scaffold overcoat wrapped around the George Hotel now offers belated protection from the elements, but work seems to have paused temporarily (not surprisingly) as have the roof repairs to the Monastery as well.
Credit must go to the town’s businesses and shop keepers for investing in their buildings despite the lack of trade and income at present and, when the shoppers and confidence return together, Rye will be a better, brighter and even more attractive place to visit.
Image Credits: Nick Forman .