HIGH streets are set to buzz with shoppers again after it was announced non-essential retailers can reopen from April 12.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled his roadmap for lifting lockdown and getting the country back to normal this week.

Primark will reopen its stores in England on April 12

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Primark will reopen its stores in England on April 12Credit: Alamy

Clothes and homeware retailers are among those that will be able to open their doors again – as long as coronavirus infection rates continue to fall.

Primark, John Lewis and Dunelm all plan to let customers enter stores on the first day allowed, along with H&M and JD Sport.

Shops which don’t sell essentials have been closed since January 4, when the third lockdown was introduced.

Under plans for reopening the country – and provided the data supports it – high street stores will be able to open again in England from Monday April 12.

Last time non-essential retailers opened up was after the second lockdown last year.

Stores reopened on December 2 and many had extended opening hours to make up for lost shopping time and ensure Covid safety.

Four tests for lifting lockdown restrictions

Boris Johnson’s staged approach for exiting lockdown will depend on the data and there will be four tests for lifting lockdown measures:

  • The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully.
  • Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.
  • Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
  • Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.

Dunelm

Dunelm told The Sun it is planning to open all stores from April 12.

The homeware retailer does not have any current plans to keep stores open for 24 hours.

Shoppers can still shop online at Dunelm while lockdown continues, for home delivery or click and collect at some locations.

You can check the opening times for Dunelm stores when it does reopen using its online store finder tool.

John Lewis

John Lewis has said it is planning for the reopening of stores according to the government’s roadmap.

That means if all is on track that they will reopen on April 12.

The department store said in a statement: “Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on the proposed road map for April, which is dependent on a number of conditions being met, we will start to plan for the reopening of our John Lewis shops in England.

“We will await further guidance from the devolved administrations for those John Lewis shops in Wales and Scotland.”

John Lewis closed its doors in January under lockdown rules, and later said it would also suspend click and collect to encourage shoppers to stay at home.

We’ve asked John Lewis when this service is set to return, and we’ll update this article once we hear back.

Shoppers can still buy online for home delivery while lockdown continues.

You can check the opening times for John Lewis stores when it does reopen using its online store finder tool.

Timeline for businesses reopening after lockdown

PRIME Minister Boris Johnson has outlined his roadmap for easing England out of lockdown.

Businesses will be allowed to reopen on the following dates, as long as the “four steps to freedom” are met. Here’s what we know so far:

April 12

  • Retail
  • Hospitality outdoors
  • Hairdressers
  • Zoos
  • Self-catered staycations with one household

May 17

  • Indoor hospitality
  • Indoor exercise gyms
  • Bingo halls
  • Cinemas
  • Sports stadiums to reopen but capped to 10,000 fans
  • Saunas
  • Spas

June 21

  • Nightclubs

Primark

Primark will reopen stores on April 12 and it’s set to include longer hours.

The retailer has confirmed plans to reopen its 153 stores in England on April 12. It will then reopen its 20 shops in Scotland on April 26.

It is unclear when branches in Northern Ireland and Wales will reopen.

When the high street favourite opened its doors again after the last lockdown lifted in December some Primark stores were open for 24 hours.

Shoppers have been unable to get hold of bargain clothes from Primark during this lockdown and previous ones.

Online shopping is unavailable and Primark bosses have said they won’t introduce it despite having billions of pounds worth of unsold stock and millions of pounds of lost profits.

Argos

At Argos customers have still been able to shop online during lockdown.

Stores have been closed except for picking up online orders via click and collect since January when the latest lockdown started.

The high street brand will be able to open its doors to shoppers from April 12 under the roadmap plans.

It has not announced any plans yet for reopening but we’ll let you know when they do.

The retailer said that safety remains a priority and that it continues to follow government guidelines – and it will keep customers and staff updated on its plans.

Clarks

Clarks stores are also closed because of the latest lockdown restrictions – but you can still shop online.

The good news is parents can pick up new school shoes in person soon.

The shoe shop will reopen all Clarks stores open when they are legally allowed to – so in England this is April 12.

There will be normal opening times at Clarks stores and you can find opening times at your local branch using its online store finder tool.

H&M

H&M stores remain closed because of lockdown, but under the roadmap will open when allowed.

That means if everything remains on track, H&M stores could open from April 12.

 A spokesperson told The Sun: “H&M continues to follow all government guidance across all regions of the UK and Ireland.

“We look forward to reopening once we have confirmation from the government we are able to do so.”

In the meantime you can still get your fashion fix by shopping with H&M online for home delivery until lockdown is lifted.

JD Sports

JD Sports stores have been closed since the start of the the third national lockdown in England.

The sports chain has not been offering click and collect either, saying the service is temporarily unavailable, but you can still order online for home delivery.

JD Sports will open on April 12 in line with government guidelines and with safety measures in place like social distancing.

The sports store will have extended opening hours at some stores where it’s allowed to based on local council and landlord rules.

This could include 24 hour opening in locations where there are shoppers overnight.

M&S

Some Marks and Spencer stores have been open during lockdown.

That’s because its food sections are allowed to be open under the lockdown rules.

Places selling food like supermarkets are “essential” and that goes for M&S Food Halls.

But M&S branches that only sell clothing, homeware and beauty products are closed for now, in line with the latest government restrictions.

The retailer has confirmed these will reopen in line with government guidance, and it’s working towards the roadmap.

That means if coronavirus infection rates continue to call, among other test measures, these stores will open their doors on April 12.

Shoppers can still buy online for home delivery and click and collect before lockdown ends.

You can check if your local M&S is open using its online store finder tool.

When the previous lockdown was lifted last year, M&S opened stores for longer in the run-up to Christmas.

Shops allowed to stay open

AN increasing number of retailers are currently allowed to open, they include:

  • Supermarkets
  • Pharmacies
  • Takeaways and food deliveries
  • Health shops
  • Medical services – eg, dentists
  • Vets
  • Newsagents
  • Pet shops
  • Hardware stores
  • Retail shops in hospitals
  • Petrol stations
  • Bicycle shops
  • Laundrettes and dry cleaners
  • Undertakers
  • Banks, building societies
  • Short-term loan providers, credit unions and cash points
  • Storage and distribution centres
  • Post Offices
  • Car rental services and car parks near vital services such as supermarkets
  • Public toilets
  • Car garages and repair shops
  • Food banks and shelters
  • Homeware stores
  • Garden centres
  • Car show rooms
  • Outdoor markets

Matalan

Like other non-essential retailers, Matalan is closed in lockdown except for picking up click and collect orders made online at selected stores.

To see whether your local store is offering a click and collect service, shoppers should use Matalan’s store finder tool on its website.

Matalan has not yet revealed its plans for reopening but we’ve asked and will update this article when we hear back.

New Look

New Look stores are closed during lockdown but you can buy online from its website.

Like other non-essential retailers, it will be allowed to open its doors again to shoppers from April 12 under the government’s roadmap.

New Look told The Sun it plans to open all stores in England on this date.

It added it currently has no plans to open for 24 hours in any location.

Next

Next is closed under the lockdown rules, but has let people pick up online orders made online from some stores with click and collect.

Shoppers can also buy things online for home delivery.

You can check which services are available at your local store using Next’s online store finder.

Boris Johnson’s reopening roadmap allows for Next and other non-essential retailers to open from April 12, provided the covid infection rate data supports it.

We’ve asked Next if it plans to open all stores then and will let you know what they say.

Shoezone

Shoezone is among the non-essential shops closed under lockdown restrictions – but you can order online for home delivery.

The retailer will reopen in line with the government’s guidance, so that means April 12 if everything is on track.

You can check your local store’s opening times with it’s online tool.

Sports Direct

Sports Direct is closed under the current lockdown rules but could be allowed to open from April 12.

Fraser Group, which owns brands such as Sports Direct, House of Fraser, Game and Jack Wills, told The Sun it plans to open all stores on April 12 in line with government guidance.

For now, you can still shop online with Sports Direct for home delivery or click and collect at some stores.

You can check the opening times for your local store on the Sports Direct website.

The Entertainer

Toy chain The Entertainer plans to reopen all stores in England on April 12.

It told The Sun it currently has no plans for extended opening hours.

The Entertainer is also yet to announce when stores in Scotland and Wales can reopen.

In November, The Entertainer temporarily closed seven of its England shops due to lockdown – but the rest offered click and collect.

Before shops open again, students will return to England schools from March 8.

Hairdressers will open from April 12 along with gyms and non-essential retail.

Meanwhile, pubs will reopen for indoor drinking in May after outdoor service returns in April.

Boris Johnson vows he is ‘very optimistic and hopeful’ for June 21 reopening when all restrictions dropped

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk

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