AS businesses continue to evaluate their future plans as an end to lockdown potentially draws near, a popular Thurrock food venue has announced it will be reopening next month.

Kings Cockle Shed at the Dog and Partridge on the A128 between Orsett and Bulphan says it will be serving again on Friday, 1 May with social distancing measures in place.

A message from the owners to customers says: "We are pleased to say that we are reopening to serve fresh seafood, seafood platters and traditional pie'n'mash

"We will be open all weekend.

"We are based in the Dog and Partridge pub car park on the A128 so there is more then enough space to keep the two metre distance required by social distancing.

"Orders can be taken over the phone for you to collect at a specific time to save waiting! You can also message us on Facebook to place orders for your fish and your pie'n'mash.

"We will be doing free delivery to those in surrounding areas on all orders over £15 (Orsett village, Horndon on the Hill, West Horndon, Stifford, etc).

"See you next weekend stay safe everyone."

Mixed views on reopening from borough businesses