SHOPS in England can welcome back customers from today as coronavirus restrictions are eased.
All non-essential shops, including Debenhams, Primark and Home Bargains are allowed to reopen after four weeks of forced temporary closure.
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Retailers have been given the go-ahead to reopen even in areas placed in the highest Covid-19 tiers so they can cash in on the biggest spending season of the year.
The British high street is ready to embrace Christmas bargain hunters on “Wild Wednesday” by launching sales early – with discounts of up to 80%.
Meanwhile other retailers such as John Lewis and Currys PC World are still running Black Friday offers.
Eager Primark shoppers were snapped queuing outside stores from 5am today, while one million joined a virtual waiting list for the Debenhams website.
Pubs and restaurants in lower Tiers have also got the green-light to open for diners from today, after weeks of operating as takeaway and delivery only.
Gyms, leisure centres and fitness studios have also already opened doors again this morning – but group classes have been banned in the highest Tier.
Here’s a full list of the what can reopen from today:
What businesses can reopen from today?
Which businesses can reopen today depends on what Tier the local area has been placed in.
Tier 3
- Non-essential retailers, including clothing stores and toy shops
- Pubs, restaurants and bars – but only for takeaway, delivery or click and collect
- Gyms – although group exercise classes are banned
- Swimming pools and leisure centres
- Hairdressers and barbers
- Beauty salons
- Places of worship
Tier 2
In addition to those allowed to open in Tier 3, pubs and bars in Tier 2 can open for dine-in as long as they serve a substantial meal with any booze they sell.
The 10pm curfew has also been extended until 11pm.
Casinos, cinemas, bowling alleys, theatres, soft play areas, museums and galleries can also open.
Tier 1
Most businesses are allowed to operate in Tier 1 as long as they’re Covid-19 secure.
One of the few exceptions is nightclubs, which haven’t reopened since March.
Restaurants and pubs that are open for dine-in in Tier 1 can only operate a table-service, so you won’t be able to order at the bar.
Which high street retailers are open today?
Here’s a list of the retailers that are open today:
- Aldi
- Argos
- Asda
- B&M
- B&Q
- Boots
- Currys PC World
- Debenhams
- Dorothy Perkins
- Dunelm
- Flying Tiger
- Footlocker
- H&M
- Halfords
- Home Bargains
- Homebase
- Homesense
- JD Sports
- John Lewis
- Lidl
- Matalan
- Morrisons
- Newlook
- Pets at Home
- Poundland
- Primark
- Pull&Bear
- Reiss
- Sainsbury’s
- Screwfix
- Sports Direct
- Tesco
- TK Maxx
- Topshop
- Topman
- Wallis
- Wilko
- Wickes
- Zara
SHOPPING SPREE
Shops slash up to 80% off as Xmas sales start early on ‘Wild Wednesday’
MIDNIGHT SHOP
Primark to open 11 stores for 24 hours when it reopens on December 2
DELIVERY HELL
Furious JD Sport customers owed £100s over deliveries that haven’t turned up
SNEAK PEAK
10 Primark products you’ll find in shops tomorrow when they reopen for 24 hours
WILD WILD WEDNESDAY
1m shoppers in virtual queue for Debenhams’ sale after chain goes bust
WINTER WELFARE
Low income households can get £25 a week help with energy bills
England’s tier system has been toughened compared to before the second lockdown – here’s around up of what you can and can’t do.
You can find out what tier where you live is in here.
Only three areas, Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly, will be in the lowest tier.
Boris Johnson tells Parliament the UK can’t afford to relax until there is a vaccine as Commons votes on new Tier regulations
