Hopes for 'holidays at home' boost as Doncaster spa re-opens after eight month nightmare since November floods

But now she is hoping that doubts over foreign holidays will boost local businesses in the borough as they finally re-surface after months of lockdown.

Pam’s Truffle Lodge spa was left under water in November when Fishlake flooded when the River Don broke its banks.

Then it turned out a clause in her insurance left her having to fork out to bring it back into business again.

She pulled all the stops out to re-open the Trundle Lane venue again early in January.

Just two months later, she was forced to close again along with many other businesses as the coronavirus lockdown arrived.

But on Saturday (August 1), she will finally be re-opening again, after permission was granted by the Government for facial treatments to be carried out and steam rooms to be used – the last of the services carried out at Truffle Lodge to have been covered by the restrictions which were imposed.

She said:”We finally managed to re-open on January 6, only to have to close again on March 25. Now we can open again, and we’re doing everything we can to make things safe. There will be hand sanitisers and the girls who do the beauty treatments will wear face shields.

"We can’t remain closed forever so is it a case of being happy people have been so sensible.

"It was a massive relief when they said we could reopen. We had started taking bookings for August 1 as a target, and the therapists are as excited as I am.”

Pam believes businesses like hers may see visits from people who have been affected by Government travel restrictions. She said she had great sympathy for those whose holidays were affected.

She added: “People have been ringing to say they have not got anywhere to go, and asking about day passes here. It’s terrible if people miss out on their holidays, but businesses in the UK may be able to provide good experiences for people.

"It is very disappointing that we can’t go abroad, but let’s embrace what we can here in England.”

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