Nestled among the Cathedral Quarter, the Bailgate in Lincoln is home to independent traders and local produce, as well as world-famous landmarks and quirky Tudor buildings.

It also hosts one of the largest Christmas markets in Europe, attracting a quarter of a million people over a four-day event.

However, with ecommerce retailers at an all-time high after almost a year into the coronavirus pandemic, our brick-and-mortar stores are fighting for their future.

Fashion retailers Debenhams and Topshop are just some of the big names who have become the latest victims in the death of the high street.

But the message from traders in this cathedral city is that the high street is here to stay.

Stephen Smith, owner of coffee and gift shop, Sanctuary in the Bail, said he thought now is the time for small shops to succeed.

He said: “I’m a massive believer that retail is a social thing, it’s not just popping out to the shops. It needs to be an event.

“Coming into the Bailgate, perhaps you get a coffee in the morning, have a look around the shops then a spot of lunch. Shopping is an experience for people, and I don’t think that will ever be replaced.”

He said now was the time for small shops to come into their own because people want a personalised service which you can’t get online or from chain stores.

“I don’t think it’s a doom and gloom story at all, especially for small traders. It’s tough at the moment, but it will bounce back.”

Sasha Drennan, founder of Lindum Books, said that towns and cities would be worse off without independent shops and the chance to help the local economy.

She said: “If you’re only relying on big chain stores or only shopping online, none of that money comes back into the local community.

“I’m a local business owner, my staff are local, I live locally, and I spend the money that people spend with me in the local area.”

In the first half of 2020, more independent retailers survived on the UK high street compared to retail chain stores, according to Local Data Company (LDC).

Independent retailers experienced a net decline of 1,833 shops, almost a third less than the 6,001 chain stores which closed on the hight street.

On a greater scale, 64 per cent of the leisure and retail market consists of independent businesses.

From green grocers to gift shops and eco pantries to book shops, the cobbled streets of Lincoln welcomed around four million visitors in 2017.

Sasha said: “We get to meet lots of visitors from all over the world in normal times because we are in the visitor heart of Lincoln.

“We are right in the middle of the events that take place like the steampunk festival, the Christmas markets, the 1940’s weekend and everything going on at the castle and the cathedral.

“Attracting more visitors to Lincoln helps to keep the whole economy of Lincoln going.

"You can go to any high street and see the same old chain stores, but that’s not what visitors want, they want to come to a historic area and see what looks like a traditional high street - that’s what they get from the Bail.”

Having been in business in the area for nearly a decade, Stephen and Sasha both said they understood the importance of the Bailgate's survival and revival once restrictions are lifted.

Stephen said: “A lot of our customers are of a certain age and you become attached to them. If they don’t come in for a couple of days, you think ‘oh I hope they’re okay’.

“We’ve got a lot of our customers on Facebook so we can check in on them and to me that’s a massive thing and such a plus for the Bail.

“If they’re on their own, they come into the Bailgate and they can talk to somebody, whether it’s another customer or someone that works in the shop - it makes them feel valued and that’s a really important thing these days.”

As the pandemic continues and online shopping becomes more convenient, some independent retailers haven’t had it as tough as others.

Sasha said: “Book shops have been affected by online shopping for quite a long time now because that’s how Amazon started, by selling books.

“I don’t think book shops are in a bad position now because as a trade, we’ve had the time to work out what we can do differently to online shopping - what benefits we can bring and what we can give people that online shopping can’t.”

Throughout the lockdown’s, Sanctuary in the Bail has been able to stay open for take-away food and drink.

Stephen said: “It’s enabled people to keep coming in and chat in the daytime. A lot of our customers at the moment just come in to say hello. It cheers us up and it cheers you up, so it’s a win-win situation.

“It’s not always about selling somebody something. It’s more to do with making them feel welcome and knowing they’ve got somebody to talk to.”

Since November, Lindum Books has been available at Bookstore.org - an online platform where an independent book shop can create a page for customers to order through.

Sasha said: "It’s been really helpful because if it’s more convenient for somebody to order online then they can, but they can still support us.”

"The streets aren't paved with gold"

Financially, Stephen said government grants and support had been a "god send" throughout the coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

He said: “It’s quick to criticise but I would say they’ve supported us financially so much better than I thought they would do.

“Being in the Bailgate is challenging even in the best of times and it’s very hard work.

“A lot of people think if you’ve got somewhere in the Bail you must be really well off but believe me it’s nothing like that, the streets aren’t paved with gold.”

Looking to the future and what support is needed for independent retailers, Stephen said the Bailgate was in a “fantastic” position for people to start thinking of others before themselves.

“It’s a small community and it’s time we look after ourselves a little bit better. Just asking if others are okay, even a hello or a good morning. We need to get that social contact back.

“As a business, we want to be back up and running, but at the end of the day if people aren’t looking after each other, I don’t think everything else will fall back in place properly.

“I hope people come out of all this with an appreciation of what we have and what is around us.”

Sasha hopes the coronavirus pandemic has made people realise what they stand to lose if they don’t use the Bailgate.

“People have to realise if they don’t want shops to close, they have to use them. They are the ones that have to change that.

“I want to say a huge thank you to the people who support us - we will do everything we can to make sure we are offering what you would like to see from us.

“You are supporting a whole area, a community and a way of life and I think that’s quite a precious thing to do.”

You can follow Sanctuary in the Bail and Lindum Books on Instagram.