Meanwhile, bookshop owner Amanda Logan said she was used to the high temperatures as she grew up in southern California.
She added she had noticed fewer people come to the high street in the hot weather.
“I’m a desert being anyway. I always say that I’m a tropical person, but this is pretty unpleasant, but I’m managing,” Logan said.
“Yesterday was a lot busier than I expected it to be, but then today it’s kind of tapered off.
“You will find as a small business owner that when the temperatures rise, the high street gets quiet because either people are in their houses or they’re in the pubs.”
Meanwhile, people working in the hospitality trade said they were seeing a similar picture.
Joshua Smyth runs Walter’s House of Coffee. He said he was making sure his staff and customers could cool down.
“[We] make sure all the doors and windows are open constantly, having a nice draft coming through the building,” Smyth said.
“Obviously staying hydrated throughout the day is important too, and ensure all of my staff get breaks.”