A list of all the shops and places that have reopened today
The spread of coronavirus in the UK saw many businesses – from high street shops to gyms to pubs – close their doors. Today, as per the government's previous announcement, many of them are reopening for business: yep, a plethora of non-essential stores, including fashion giants, mobile phone stores and museum gift shops, are now once again up and running. Unsurprisingly, huge queues have already been spotted outside the likes of Primark.
To recap, a list of businesses that are allowed to reopen from today, according to the government website, are:
Food retailers
Chemists
Hardware/homeware stores
Fashion shops
Charity shops
Betting shops and arcades
Tailors, dress fitters and fashion designers
Car dealerships
Auction houses
Antique stores
Retail art galleries
Photography studios
Gift shops and retail spaces in theatres, museums, libraries, heritage sites and tourism sites
Mobile phone stores
Indoor and outdoor markets
Craft fairs
Similar types of retail
Other businesses, such as safari parks, zoos and drive-thru cinemas have also been given the nod, plus places of worship will now be open for private prayer. Alas, no pubs, restaurants, bars, nail salons or hairdressers just yet – it's though the earliest they could open is 4 July (but that again is dependent on government guidelines being met).
However, this doesn't mean that every single store will be flinging open their doors wide open – there's still a strict set of requirements that they must adhere to first, in order for customers to be able to shop safely (while maintaining social distancing measures). They could also close once more should there be a resurgence in COVID-19 cases.
No doubt today will be a joyful one for many retailers, some of whom have struggled financially ever since they had to literally shut up shop, but there are also concerns that customers will still be reluctant to enter stores.
Catherine Shuttleworth, an analyst rom the Savvy retail marketing agency, told BBC Radio 4's Today show, "It is fine saying the stores can open, but are we going to have the appetite to go back? Shopping is a social, fun experience a lot of the time and social distancing takes that away. It's going to be a very different way of shopping from what we're used to."
The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
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