As we make our preparations to reopen, we wanted to reassure you by covering the new measures we have put in place to ensure your safety and the safety of our teams during these difficult times.

When the Covid-19 pandemic first hit us, it left many of our customers struggling as they were advised not to leave their homes. Some needed repairs or were awaiting their new specs to arrive in-store, others needed their contact lenses or had concerns about deteriorating vision. Then lockdown occurred and we reluctantly had to close all stores, adding to the difficulties our customers (and ourselves) faced.

As soon as it is safe for us to reopen, we'll do so - and look forward to seeing you all again. When that time comes (hopefully in the not-too-distant future) you can be assured that not only your eye care will be our priority, but your safety too. During lockdown we have invested in a number of resources and equipment, ranging from Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to in-store social distancing measures such as screens and cleaning stations - and more recently, new technology to improve safety.

Right now, we are all spending a LOT more time indoors at home, whether through self-isolation or simply abiding by the Government advice to stay home where possible. It's a concept we're not used to, and for many it can feel quite a struggle... we've all been robbed of our social needs. At Barracloughs we have put together a number of tips to help you through, from simply beating the boredom to improving your mental health during this difficult period.

We are all aware of the advice from the NHS to help stop the spread of Coronavirus and protect ourselves and others. Staying away from public places, avoiding travel unless necessary, washing hands regularly. But for those of us who wear spectacles or contact lenses it can be very difficult to avoid touching our faces.

UPDATE, 23 March 2020: We have made the decision to temporarily close all stores after Tuesday 23 March 2020. We need to ensure your safety and the safety of our teams.

Amid the developing Coronavirus situation, we wanted to take a moment to reassure you of the actions we are taking during these uncertain times.

Clean lenses, all day long?

Let's admit it, keeping our lenses clean can be a real pain - how many times a day do you find yourself giving your lenses a clean? A smudge here, a fingerprint there. This is now a thing of the past with the new, revolutionary X-tra Clean coating on your Rodenstock lenses.

On Saturday, our Battle team welcomed the Rotary Club of Senlac in-store for a Stroke Awareness Day. A third of those people whose blood pressure was checked were referred to their GP for further investigation. The Rotary Clubs of Senlac and Battle worked with the Stroke Association to make people aware of the risks of strokes at an event in Battle. Some 40 people were seen and thirteen of those exhibited a blood pressure outside the normally expected range.

We couldn't be happier to announce that Barracloughs have won yet another award! Our Uckfield team attended the swanky East Sussex Business Awards ceremony last night at the East Sussex National, and were awarded Professional Service Provider of the Year.

It's time for your Eastbourne store to undergo some changes - we'd like to make it more spacious for you, more inviting and generally brighter and more modern.