Rishi Sunak promises to visit new travel agency 'when next in town'

When asked when would be an ideal time for Sunak to visit with peaks around the corner, Lomas exclusively told TTG: “The way the letter has been worded, he will probably just turn up. We will just have to take him as we are.

"He is welcome any time. We’re always ready for anyone who walks through that door.”

Lomas admitted that although he doesn’t agree with everything Sunak stands for, he does feel there is “something classy” about the prime minister. 

“You are never going to like everything that they say when they’re prime minister, but I like the fact that he does not get involved in stuff that he does not need to,” Lomas explained. 

“It’s nice that he has taken the time to write to a local business like ours. People do say that he is very supportive of local businesses.” 

Lomas noted the level of detail which Sunak goes into, saying: “It’s not a basic letter. He knows all about our expansion.” 

Lomas joked that Sunak was probably trying to “sweet talk” him into giving him a good holiday deal. 

Lomas said the last few weeks had been “wonderful” despite it being “a funny time” of year to open a travel agency branch.

“Traditionally, it’s a quiet time of year,” he said. “But it means we have had time to bed in and do online training [modules]. 

“Before we opened, we had a day with around 15 tour operators which gave staff a good head start.” 

Lomas added that the branch was taking bookings “every day” but staff had not seen “crazy” businesses come in.

“With our Burton-on-Trent branch, we had quite a following when we opened in 2018,” he said, adding: “Business here in Richmond is starting to come, slowly but surely. The amount of people that say what a nice looking shop it is. They’re glad that there is a travel agency here again.” 

Thomas Cook and latterly Hays Travel have previously operated the premises as a travel agency, but the last business to occupy 25 Market Place was a bakery.