An Ashby fish and chip shop has installed a 'telephone booth' system for customers ahead of re-opening on Monday.

Nick's Fish bar at The Callis is ready to start frying again after closing during the coronavirus lockdown.

But the family-owned business run by Nikolas and Stavroula Ioannou - Nick and Stav to regulars - say they have taken maximum precautions before opening the doors to the public once more.

And that includes installing what Stav describes as a 'genius' system of allowing people back into the shop while sticking to social distancing rules.

Stav told Ashby Nub News why it was felt that now was the right time to open again.

She said: "We didn't have to close, we could've stayed open, but there was no way we were going to take that kind of risk without any proper measures.

"If we'd stayed open, we knew we wouldn't be doing it right.

"Slowly, the Government have been saying what you can and can't do, and how to make it work. We waited until things calmed down a bit.

"In the meantime, we've spoken to people, come up with ideas of our own and we've come up with a plan - we can put it into action now.

"Our concern was having just two people in the shop at a time.

"It would've been ridiculous and wouldn't have been viable for the business.

"So we're come up with telephone booths - perspex cubicles. You walk into one of the booth and there's clear screening between the staff and the customer next to you.

"There are five booths. There should be an efficient system in place and we've ordered a new card machine.

"We'll have footsteps, arrows and a one-way system. No-one should be crossing into paths.

"But we weren't in a rush, we wanted to get it right."

Stav added that the staff would also be taking the appropriate safety measures.

She said: "The staff will all be wearing visors to protect themselves and they'll be wearing gloves.

"We have lots of sanitisers - and a thermometer to make sure they don't have a temperature before they start work."

They have been at the shop since 1986 and spent a significant amount of money on the new measures - but believe it will be worth it if they can be back in business.

Stav added: "The cubicles were our idea because we weren't ready to do an online ordering service.

"I wasn't confident, I can work like this, my husband can and the staff can. But in the next few weeks we hope to have a click and collect system up and running."

Stav knows that demand will be high to start with but says she hopes customers will be patient until the new system is working smoothly.

And she says other businesses may look at what they are doing if they want to start trading again.

She added: "I think the cubicles are genius, it means you can carry on as normal.

"You can't have customers standing outside for too long and it's more practical.

"It wasn't cheap, but we discovered it by chances. Someone came to do a canopy outside, we asked them about a screen along the counter and one conversation led to another and we designed it on the spot.

"If we need to remove it, we have to put a new floor down but these measures might be around for a while. It might take a year, but I hope everyone gets better and I can take them down as that's the most important thing."

You can find out more details on the shop's new Facebook page, which you can link to HERE: Nick's Fish Bar

Stav added: "I want to thank all of our customers, we're really looking forward to seeing them again and hope they're all keeping well."

Nick's Fish Bar will be open Monday: Lunch, Closed; Evening: 5pm - 9.30pm. Tuesday-Saturday: Lunch: 11.30am - 1.30pm; Evening: 5pm - 9.30pm. Sunday: Closed