In our short time in existence here in Hitchin, Nub News has published around 30 opinion columns from a diverse range of people and groups within our community.

Hitchin Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups.

We highlight many of these businesses, organisations and individuals regularly in a feature called 'Up Close in Hitchin' - as well as fascinating opinion pieces from our trusted cohort of Nub News contributors.

We're delighted to welcome the brilliant Jess Princeton, owner of Riot Lounge, as our latest Hitchin Nub News columnist.

Read on for her take as a Hitchin town centre business owner on a hectic few days ahead of lockdown...

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As an independent retailer working in the small town of Hitchin where I live, I ride the small business roller coaster on a day-to-day basis along with all the other small businesses out there.

But this year has been a little more challenging than usual.

The announcement last weekend that many of us were to close our doors for a second time, initially put me into meltdown.

Saturday night I went home feeling numb. It had rained all day, and the town was unusually quiet in comparison to what it had been recently.

My short walk home had me thinking, is this the end?

After an initial three months of closure and most of us small businesses having to apply for substantial loans over and above our grants just so we could open our doors in June and July, how was I going to manage now?

But something interesting happened on Sunday when I returned to work

I started to receive messages through my social media channels, from customers asking how I was, and saying how sorry they were that us small businesses were having to go through a second closure.

However, the messages didn't stop there. Every message included a strong promise that they would be in before the Wednesday curfew to shop and support as they were determined to keep Hitchin businesses going.

Wow, well, I can't tell you how moved I was

The last four days have been a whirlwind, they've come and gone so fast mainly because the people of Hitchin and surrounding areas did what they do best, support their town.

One customer brought flowers, another coffee, another cake, everyone that walked through my door said how they were not shopping Amazon this Christmas, that they were fully committed to supporting all us local independent businesses and the community, now more than ever.

And they did just that. One friend who had been in shopping earlier burst through my door singing I've just finished all my Christmas shopping in town, thank you for being one of my favourite shops!

We are Hitchin

That is intrinsically what Hitchin is like.

So many people recognise the love that all us small business owners have for what we do, our shop floors are our stage and although our customers make us feel like the leading actors, the real stars are our customers, our friends, who always keep us going in so many ways.

Not just financially, they believe in us, encourage us, are compassionate, caring and kind to the core.

That is Hitchin. And that is the real fuel for a small business owner - it is the stuff of dreams! I am grateful for them, and for my fellow business owners in town, who work so hard, and that I count as some of my closest friends.

We love Hitchin

Massive props to town centre manager Tom Hardy and his team who tirelessly work to keep Hitchin going, and who play a vital role in keeping this town vibrant. a massive thank you to the BID and Hitchin Initiative crew.

Riot Lounge's doors may closed to the public for four weeks, but like most of the businesses in town, you can find us all on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

We are selling through our channels, people can click and collect, shop through our instagram squares, and many of us are doing deliveries in and around the Hitchin area.

Simply contact any of us through our social media channels, we'll always do the best we can for you our customers, and for our town!

We love Hitchin!

For more information on Riot Lounge click here

PREVIOUS HITCHIN NUB NEWS OPINION PIECES

Isla McLachlan: Hitchin - a small place with a big heart

Neil Fredrik Jensen on Hitchin's coffee shop culture

Zac Cash: My message to new university students at start of freshers week

Zac Cash: How we can draw parallels between 19th century social reform and the 'new normal'

Zac Cash on LGBT issues and the US election

Freddy Cardy: More mixed government messages on Covid crisis

Sparky's Hitchin View: The treasure that is Deacon Hill

Sparky's Hitchin View: One swallow does not make a summer but a gulp may signal the end...

Sparky's Hitchin View: Is our water destined for The Wash or the wash...?

Paul Chambers: Why I'm honoured to be involved in Hitchin's Black History Month

Judi Billing: Inept government response to Covid is failing us all...

Kieran Murphy from PHASE hails HCF

Alex Slater: Live entertainment is struggling, we need help

Hitchin MP Bim Afolami: PM's decision to 'pull handbrake' is sensible

Layth Yousif: My week: Sir Kier Starmer's visit

Layth Yousif: My week - sources not sauces

Roy Izzard: Bim backs Canaries

Roy Izzard hails generous gesture

Tom Hardy: Hitchin stronger and more resilient after lockdown

Tom Hardy on business interruption claims

If you would like to join our brilliant cohort of trusted contributors, please email [email protected] with your idea/pitch and we'll take it from there.