How ‘the new normal’ really looks at Meadowhall shopping centre

Not that Meadowhall’s centre director has had much time away.

Darren reveals he spent the first weeks of lockdown trying to figure out what Meadowhall’s ‘new normal’ was going to look like, when the centre was finally able to welcome back shoppers, which it has been steadily doing since June.

“A lot of the things you see here today are the result of a broken night’s sleep, and 3am lightbulb moments,” laughs Darren, as he leads me through the Oasis, and out into Meadowhall’s main mall, on our walking tour.

I have to admit, it feels good to be back at the Sheffield shopping centre, which has been a staple in the region for the past 30 years.

After months of home-working, home-living and home-schooling under one roof, there’s something reassuring in the familiar landmarks, the firm flooring underfoot, and the pleasant bustle of people nearby - all, I’m pleased to say, a safe distance away.

The signage is the first thing that strikes me - arrows everywhere guiding shoppers through the new one-way system, and footprints reminding visitors to keep their distance.

A giant screen above the main escalator on The Arcade prompts people to keep left when walking, and to maintain a two-metre distance.

Above each shop is a traffic light indicator, flipped either to red - to indicate a shop is at capacity, and people mustn’t enter - or green - to welcome shoppers in.

“The staged and steady approach to opening has been great for us, and we’ve managed to hit every milestone calmly and successfully,” says Darren.

“Our team has been working incredibly hard, and constantly throughout this whole period, to ensure that we are approaching everything with the right level of caution.

“The most important aspect, for us, in maintaining a safe environment, has been in maintaining numbers, so that we can ensure people are socially distanced.

“We have very sophisticated systems in place in Meadowhall, working on the periphery counting cars, and in the centre itself, counting people. This means that, at any one time, I know how many people are in the mall, which is essential.”

The centre’s current maximum allowance is 9,000 people, well below the number of visitors the centre would usually expect in at peak times.

Reflecting for a moment on the events of March, which saw the country go into lockdown as coronavirus cases and deaths climbed nationally, Darren shakes his head in amazement: “It was an utterly unprecedented time, and of course none of us really knew what to expect,” he says.

“I’ve been here 26 of Meadowhall’s 30 years, and have seen a lot of different things, but there was no preparing for this one.

“We’d had to close for a couple of days in the past, like when the flooding hit, which was tough enough, but this was a real shock to everybody.

“Coming back six weeks ago, we immediately implemented hand sanitising, and a thorough cleaning regime, as well as the one-way lane system to keep people moving and apart, but that really is the basics of life now going forward.

“We then began building on that with lots of signage, as well as the red and green indicator system.”

The Oasis has also seen an overhaul, with much of the seating removed to allow diners to sit spaced out, and a new triple-lane queueing system for those waiting to order food.

Darren admits he was in the centre at 6am the day The Harvester reopened, personally tweaking tape lines on the floor, and trying to anticipate any issues.

He explains: “What we are seeing is two distinct camps of people - those who are just beginning to venture out after four months in isolation, and are very cautious and want to see that we are proceeding very carefully; and those who are very happy to be back and eager to get back to normal.

“Our focus is on keeping everyone safe and happy.

“We’re also finding that our visitors are much more purposeful; they’re coming to buy what they need, and so while dwell time and footfall has dropped, spend is up.”

Having completed a lap of the centre, Darren begins to lead us back to the Oasis. I comment that I’m pleased to see so many people adhering to the guidance regarding mandatory wearing of masks, and enquire how Meadowhall intends to police this.

Darren nods: “Our on-site police team is actively involved in ensuring people are complying by wearing masks.

“We want to make it clear to our customers that, where people resist wearing masks into the centre, we won’t hesitate to enforce it, and to issue fines, which we have already done.

“For anyone who doesn’t have a mask, we’re selling charity masks for Sheffield Children’s Hospital at all our customer service desks.

“We sold 500 within a week, which is fantastic for the charity, and are expecting to sell thousands more before Christmas.”

With much of Meadowhall back up and running, there are just a few businesses waiting to return - including the cinema, on August 21, and a handful of restaurants.

“It’s a terrific community we have here, and we’re all thrilled to be welcoming shoppers back,” says Darren.

“Obviously we want every visitor who crosses the threshold to feel safe and comfortable, and that will continue to be our priority as we navigate this strange new world.”

Visit meadowhall.co.uk for details on opening times and guidance.