Lockdown restrictions are starting to lessen, with June 15th being the first day that non-essential retail opened back up. Already there have been queues for Primark and TK Maxx, but aside from the shops we’ve seen open on social media, it may be handy to know exactly what retail stores are now open. Below is every non-essential shop which is now open for the general public to visit, sticking to the 2m apart rule of course and adhering to one-way systems in place.
Non-essential shops now open for business
- Food retailers (such as Greggs, Pret A Manger and collecting from inside McDonald’s stores come June 24th)
- Chemists
- Hardware/homeware stores (such as B&M and B&Q)
- Fashion Shops (these include Next and Kurt Geiger)
- Charity shops
- Betting shops and arcades
- Tailors, dress fitters and fashion designers
- Car dealerships
- Auction houses
- retail art galleries
- Photography studios
- Gift shops, theatres, museums libraries, heritage sites and tourism sites
- Mobile phone stores
- indoor and outdoor markets
- Craft fairs
- Similar types of retail
Big Name Retailers
- B&Q
- Dunelm (click & collect service)
- Homebase
- IKEA
- Next (orders online and delivery only)
- Poundland (from next week)
- Quiz (taking online orders)
- River Island (online orders)
- Timpson’s shoe repair (only opening stores in supermarkets)
- TK Maxx
- Wickes
For all other retailers, visit the list of retail stores now open for non-essential shopping.
What to expect
If you’re planning on jumping in the car and going down to your local retail park, just be aware that new measures will be in place to ensure staff and customers are not put at risk.
Expect to find:
- Changing rooms closed
- Hand sanitiser stations dotted around stores
- Changes in trading hours to carry out strict cleaning measures
- Product testers will not be available
- Posters in shop windows instructing customers of rules
- Frequent cleaning of self-checkout sections, trolleys and baskets
- Protective covers on some items
- Storing returned items in quarantine for 72 hours
