Owners of popular Leeds Victoria Quarter shop Dowsing & Reynolds celebrate busy reopening

Ally and James Dowsing-Reynolds, both 41, are owners of the popular shop situated in the Victoria Quarter of Leeds city centre.

The shop - selling a variety of premium home interior goods - began as an online merchant from 2013.

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However in 2019, the pair launched the flagship store in the city centre to a great reception from their loyal customers.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post on the morning of reopening, the owners said they couldn't wait to be able to show their customers their items in-store once again.

Some of the staff returning to the store on Monday - hired through the pandemic - had never actually met.

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Ally told the YEP it was amazing to be able to meet and discuss their future plans and heralded the first day as a great success.

Ally said: "It has been really busy.

"We were not really sure what to expect due to it being the first day back.

"It is nice to be back and we are full of optimism and hope."

Ally said a lot of their customers had supported the business online during the forced closure.

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She said the pair were looking forward to customers being able to see their products in person.

The shop houses panels of door handles and even has a dedicated lighting section.

Ally, originally from York, added: "They can now come and see the lights in the shop and see the ambience too, which is something you don't really get online.

"That is one of the things which is different.

"Customers can now browse online and the come and see the items in the shop instead and how they might actually look in their homes."

James, originally from London, said he believed Leeds residents would adapt to the latest lockdown easing and hoped to see the city centre busy in the coming months.

He added: "It feels massive to be back open now.

"Customers will adapt in their own ways.

"The physical aspect of the shop means customers have something tangible to look at."

The owners said they believed customers were now more comfortable returning to the shop than in previous lockdowns.

Ally said their online business had boomed during the pandemic but she said she was very eager to see customers back through the doors of the shop.

She said: "All of the feedback so far has been very good [during the first day of trading].

"Our team here is great.

"We will listen to the customers and adapt and develop.

"It is just so great to be back."