How to shop in england

Meet three small businesses in England who have reopened their doors to customers by following the UK Government’s practical steps

From clothes stores to coffee shops, Monday 15 June saw many non-essential businesses across England reopening after the UK Government relaxed the laws on lockdown.

Here are three businesses who have implemented measures so that their staff and customers can remain safe…

Rossiter Books, Herefordshire

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Rossiter Books is a small chain of three independent bookshops which has been closed since the start of lockdown. Two of the stores – in Ross-on-Wye and Leominster – reopened on Monday 15 June.

“Being able to shop in person, especially at smaller independents, is a joy,” owner Andy Rossiter, pictured above, says. “I think lockdown made a lot of people realise that they don’t want all their shopping to just land at their door, but booksellers also know they need to work hard for their audience. It’s not simply a case of just opening your doors.”

Rossiter has been busy preparing the stores, moving fixtures and checkouts so that staff and customers can socially distance while browsing for books.

Safe reopening

Four practical steps businesses must take:

Carry out a risk assessment: employers will need to carry out Covid-19 risk assessments in consultation with their workers or trade unions.

Maintain social distancing: employers should redesign workspaces to maintain social distancing between people and stagger start times.

Manage transmission risk: employers should look into putting barriers in shared spaces, creating workplace shift patterns or fixed teams.

Reinforcing cleaning processes: workplaces should be cleaned more frequently, paying close attention to door handles and keyboards.

“We have installed Perspex screens at till points, bought hand sanitiser stations for the entrances to our stores and placed tape and signage throughout so we can clearly indicate the social distancing rules within our stores,” he says.

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The bookshops have reopened with less members of staff and they have limited their opening hours from their pre-lockdown seven days to just five. Rossiter has also been consulting staff and getting their input on the UK Government’s coronavirus advice.

“Our trade body, the Booksellers Association, has been brilliant at reading and interpreting this advice to make it bookshop-specific and releasing it in digestible and accessible weekly bulletins,” he says.

“Booksellers love serving customers, and we’ve been serving our local community for a decade, so seeing those regulars again and having that relationship start to return to normal will be fantastic.”

All Seasons DIY, Smethwick, West Midlands

Surinder Josan, owner of All Seasons DIY, a family-run shop, explains how he has used strict safe workplace measures to keep his shop doors open and his businesses afloat.

“All Seasons DIY is a family-run shop which was established over 40 years ago, run by myself, my wife, and my mother. My son and daughter work in the shop around their university studies as well,” Josan, below, says.

The family decided to shut the shop when school closures were announced. But after just a week they decided to reopen the business in order to serve the local community, who relied on the store for essential food and other items.

“In order to reopen, we had to reassess how we both serve and interact with our customers,” Josan explains. “We adopted several new measures to comply with social distancing to keep both ourselves and our customers safe.”

These new measures they adopted included safe distance markers outside the shop, to limit the number of people in store at any one time, installing screens at the checkout areas, encouraging contactless payments, lowering the minimum card spend to £1, and offering hand wipes to customers.

“The number of customers who have come in and complimented us for it is unbelievable. They say when they come here they feel really safe,” Josan adds.

Blend Coffee Co, Portslade, Brighton

Blend Coffee Co is an independent coffee shop based in Portslade, East Sussex, near Brighton. The two directors behind the business, Oli Crawley and Tom Jennion, have introduced a range of measures so they could confidently reopen for staff and customers.

“Our primary concern is to keep people safe, so to make sure our coffee shop was ready to be reopened we implemented a number of safer working measures,” says Crawley.

These new measures included a deep clean of the shop prior to reopening, implementation of a new ordering layout and adopting a new policy which stipulates that no customers are allowed inside the store.

Working alongside Crawley and Jennion are a further three members of staff.

“Only the directors returned to work to alleviate any pressure on our barista team feeling they need to work,” says Crawley. “This also allows an operational analysis of all our new protocols to ensure they are efficient and safe.”

The checkout system has now been moved to the front of the shop, Blend now only accepts card payments and there is a new waiting area outside the shop.

“This plan was developed after we undertook a risk assessment and analysis of the premises to ensure that customer-staff interaction could be maintained and sustained in a safe manner. We ran a test prior to reopening to ensure that our new measures would work and allow us and our customers to stay safe,” adds Crawley.

For further information from the UK Government on how employers, employees and the self-employed can return to work safely, click here

Grocery shopping in a foreign country when it’s not just to grab water and a snack while on vacation but now part of your life is actually a bit intimidating. I was never good at it in my home country and now responsible for doing it 100% of the time in a foreign one. I was apprehensive about my new responsibility and frankly, unsure about where or how to even get started.

It probably sounds ridiculous to some, but there is no guide anywhere to explain the basics of this essential life task when you move abroad. So if grocery shopping isn’t your thing but you have to sort it out, here’s what you need to know about where and how to grocery shop in England.

The British Supermarket Breakdown

There are several grocery store options in England. Depending on what you need will determine the best place for you to go. Most essentials are available at all of the grocery stores, like toilet paper, dish soap, bread and butter.

• Iceland – Frozen food supermarket with basic essentials.
• M&S – Specialty prepared foods and grab and go, with lots of options for unique cakes and biscuit tins.
• Sainsbury’s – Publix-like though not as big and has a bit of a Walmart feel to it.
• Tesco – Big shopping supermarket chain that offers the most choices to complete your grocery shopping in one stop. Sainsbury’s and Tesco supermarkets are most alike in what they offer and competitive pricing.
• Waitrose – Most like Whole Foods though not as expensive, especially if you shop the Waitrose deals.
• Ocado – Online grocery delivery that offers choices across many brands. It’s also the only place to find Kellogg’s Fruit Winders, which admittedly was my kids daily snack until I got a grip on other British choices.

If Iceland is your first introduction to British grocery shopping, don’t freak out. It happened to be the local grocery store in our neighborhood, so my first shopping experience.

I was a bit concerned by the choices and how the hubs would handle frozen dinners every night. But Iceland is simply the grocery store of choice for frozen foods. Though my first impression of Iceland was not a good one, it’s still my go-to for Birds Eye chicken nuggets and unique popsicles.

Why Online Grocery Shopping is Your New Best Friend

With so many supermarket options, ease into it by ordering online. Try all of them if you have to. It’s a little like dating to figure out which one you connect with. And it buys you the time to have to figure out the in-store experience and where everything is. After all, your immediate task is just getting the food in the house.

I’ve pretty much tried them all because I didn’t have the mind space to learn new store layouts, translations and how to drive to get there. Ocado delivery was my go-to for months and I have to say it has the best online delivery service.

It just took some bravery on my part to advance from the online grocery shopping stage to the in-store shopping experience. I arrived at that point once I realized I could do a better job at picking the fruits and vegetables myself.

How To Grocery Shop Online

If you’ve never had your groceries delivered before, the concept can seem a bit odd at first, especially if you’re not too thrilled about someone manhandling your fruit. 🤣

But grocery shopping online is a lifesaver! Whether it’s fear of driving or figuring out what food to even buy in the UK, having groceries delivered is one less thing to worry about after moving, or even when you’re sick.

How to grocery shop online includes these steps:

1. Go to the grocery store website.
2. Register with the grocery store by creating a username and password.
3. Start adding grocery store items to cart. Meet the minimum required for free delivery. Consider frozen foods or paper products that can be stored rather than putting money towards a delivery fee.
4. Click the Checkout button.
5. Provide billing and delivery details.

That’s pretty much all you need to do have groceries ordered online for delivery right to your doorstep. Once I used ocado.com, figuring out how to grocery shop online at Waitrose and others was a breeze.

Figuring Out the In-Store Grocery Shopping Experience

I won’t lie. I screwed up a few times but thankfully a few Brits saw my struggle and helped me out. There aren’t any instructions for shopping in-store so I totally fumbled through it on occasion, but now I can honestly say shopping in-store in England is far better than any grocery shopping I’ve done in the States.

Maybe I was living under a rock or maybe I didn’t venture beyond the accessibility of HEB, but nevertheless, I don’t hate and certainly not scared to navigate my way through an English grocery store while sipping on my latte and getting the FREE paper. Those are 2 shopping perks at Waitrose.

So, if you’re still unsure or need some help taking that first step (because grocery shop training isn’t a priority in the midst of getting through a moving abroad checklist), watch this simple video to show you the basics of how to grocery shop at Waitrose. You can apply these steps to your preferred grocery store of choice in England.

Now you have the basics of where and how to grocery shop in England. It’s up to you when you’re ready to try shopping in-store but once you are, you’ll find it far more convenient than grocery shopping in the US and might actually come to enjoy it.

Okay, maybe I went too far with enjoying it, but one thing I know for sure is that it’s one more expat thing to cross off your list. 🛒Sorted!

And if you need help with meals to make while you wrap your head around everything else that’s new in your life, then you have to try this meal plan – converted for Americans and Brits to simplify the cooking, with a shopping list included! Join the tribe and make “what’s for dinner?” the easiest part of your week!!

Shearbridge has had more new Covid-19 cases than any other neighbourhood in the country for two weeks running

• 05:00, 7 AUG 2020
• Updated 07:51, 7 AUG 2020

A Bradford shop owner in England’s most infected neighbourhood says 90 per cent of people who come into his shop do not wear face masks to protect against coronavirus.

The Shearbridge and University area of Bradford has recorded the highest number of new Covid-19 cases for two weeks running, according to an interactive map published by Public Health England.

The neighbourhood recorded 32 new cases in the week up to July 26 and another 32 in the week up to August 2, making it the coronavirus hotspot of the country.

Tahir Makhoom, who owns Shadpur Food Store on Great Horton Road, claimed some customers are not following rules around social distancing and face coverings.

“Most people never keep their distance,” he said. “Maybe old people try to keep the one-metre minimum distance but others don’t.

“I have a sign and I tell them and they don’t care.

“Maybe 90% don’t wear masks. I tell every person but they don’t listen. I’m worried.”

Sarah Belyova and Medara Araja, two young women who both live and work in the area, had no idea Shearbridge had recorded so many cases.

They said the news was surprising but not overly concerning.

Medara said: “We got tested, we’re clean. I hope we don’t catch it and we’re still taking precautions and everything so hopefully nothing happens.”

Sarah added: “I’m not into this whole coronavirus thing because I’m kind of over it now. It’s been going on for so long you’re just used to it.”

When the new, stricter measures were introduced for Bradford last week, Sarah and Medara did not notice too much changing in the area.

“I still had to go to work so it wasn’t really a big change for me,” said Sarah, who works in a dessert shop.

“Obviously you couldn’t go out as much and you couldn’t hang around with too many people but other than that, it was pretty much the same.”

Both women said they wore face coverings whenever they went visited shops and stuck to social distancing rules.

Jordan Stanhope is from Leeds but regularly visits his girlfriend in Shearbridge.

He said: “I always keep my distance from people, I always wear a face mask when I go in the shops, I always using cleansing wipes or alcohol gel to help the situation.

“I believe people are not following the system and going out and just doing what they please and not following basic rules.

“You see now as we’re walking up this road there’s about 50 cars all in a line, if there’s lockdown there shouldn’t be hardly any.”

A Government review of Bradford’s stricter lockdown measures took place on Thursday, with an update expected on Friday August 7.

Across England and Ireland, crowds have lined up for hours.

Need more proof that the world loves IKEA? How about these photos? As the home furnishings store reopens its doors abroad after temporarily closing due to the coronavirus pandemic, crowds of people across the pond are flocking to shop the home goods retailer in person.

Last week, enormous lines wrapped around IKEA parking lots in England and northern Ireland. Due to social distancing guidelines, only a limited number of shoppers were permitted to shop in the stores at one time. Signs in the parking lot at the the store in Warrington, England, asked customers to stay at least two meters apart at all times. To further curb the amount of people, only one adult and one child per household were allowed in, according to the BBC. In Warrington, people came three hours before the store opened at 9:00 a.m. to start lining up. At the Warrington and Wembley locations, more than a thousand people waited in line, the BBC reports.

Last Wednesday, IKEA announced that it would begin to reopen select stores in the United States with added safety protocols. Similar to the measures seen abroad, some of the new safety guidelines include physical distance guidance and strict capacity limits. There will also be temperature checks for workers and thorough cleaning and sanitization throughout the stores. IKEA is encouraging customers to listen local government safety guidelines, respect face covering guidance, and stay home if they’re feeling sick.

While customers in the U.S. will soon be able to shop chic, reasonably priced furniture at the Swedish retailer, the IKEA Restaurant and children’s play area will remain closed. In the meantime, if you’re craving IKEA’s iconic Swedish meatballs, you can find the recipe here.

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Author

PhD candidate in history, University of Oxford

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Mimi Goodall receives funding from the AHRC.

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In September 1591, Queen Elizabeth I stopped during her annual progress around her kingdom at the home of the Earl of Hertford, Elvetham Hall near Basingstoke in south-east England. The second night’s entertainment was reported to be quite the culinary spectacle: a banquet, served in the garden, with more than 1,000 dishes to weigh down the table.

The most impressive and curious of them all were statues made from sugar. Guests marvelled at a virtual menagerie: “Lions, Vnicorns, Beares, Horses, Camels, Buls, Rams, Dogges, Tygers, Elephants, Antelops, Dromedaries, Apes, and all other beasts” had been rendered in the powdery sweet stuff. Of the multitude dishes at the table, it was the ones made from sugar that were most worthy of note.

By 1800, rather than only gracing the tables of monarchs and aristocrats, sugar was on almost every table in England and would have been stirred into pretty much every servant’s cup of tea. Social historian, John Burnett – whose work focused on the working classes – put annual consumption in 1801 at 30.6lb (13.87kg) per person.

Understanding sugar’s rise to ubiquity helps to tell the story of some of the most important phenomena in economic history. The history of sugar is also the history of capitalism, of exploitation, of globalisation and of industrialisation.

Moorish – and moreish

Sugar first came to England in the 11th century, brought back by soldiers returning from the Crusades in what is now the Middle East. Over the next 500 years it remained a rarefied luxury, until Portuguese colonists began producing it at a more industrial level in Brazil during the 1500s. Financed by Dutch merchants, they began to traffic enslaved Africans to farm the sugar. The planters were able to ship commercial quantities to Europe.

In the mid-17th century, British colonists adopted the same business model, using slaves to plant cash crops in Barbados, Jamaica and other smaller islands. And it is from this point that the British relationship with sweetness really accelerates.

Stamp printed by British Guyana showing sugar cane being transported in punts, circa 1938. Sergey Goryachev via Shutterstock

Just as the industry was evolving in the Caribbean, so too was the trade back to Europe. Sugar spread throughout the British Isles. The Atlantic trading nexus, known as the “triangular trade”, between Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, wove a sticky web which traversed oceans and continents, reaching even the rural north-east of England, where, for example, sugar was available from a local grocer in Lancaster.

Sugar came in a number of varieties at a number of different price points and wasn’t confined to the tables of the elite. Triple-refined white sugar remained the most expensive, but a poorer consumer could also buy ordinary brown sugar or dark viscous molasses, known as treacle. Recipe books from the period are filled with ideas for how to use the ingredient, from sprinkling on salad to a fine plum cake. Sugar was particularly useful as it kept fresh goods for longer, turning low-calorie perishable fruit into high-calorie preserves and jams.

Economic fuel

Understanding the timeline of our sweet tooth also tells us more about the development of the global economy – and Britain’s role within it. One of the most important facilitators for the increase in home consumption was the rise of the domestic sugar refinery. Where once sugar was processed in the Caribbean and shipped back to Europe, sugar merchants began to import back semi-processed sugar and finish the refining process at home.

By 1700, refineries, or “sugar bakers” as they were known, had popped up across the length and breadth of the country, from Plymouth to Glasgow, and from Liverpool to Ipswich. Sugar baking was one of the first industrial activities to appear in England. It was comparable to the factories of the industrial revolution, mostly because it used vast amounts of coal to heat the copper pans which boiled the sugar.

Albert Dock in Liverpool, where a great deal of imported sugar was landed in England. Ronald Saunders via Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA

The finished product was then shipped around the country, helping to forge transport networks, both internationally and domestically. It feels important to mention, writing this article in lockdown, that the Great Plague of 1665 did a lot to support the expansion of the industry around the country. Refiners left London to set up shop elsewhere and West Indian ships carrying sugar had to dock in other ports to avoid catching the disease. Both phenomena expedited sugar’s geographic expansion.

The English crown supported this burgeoning industrial activity. Protectionist taxation policies effectively subsidised imports of semi-processed sugar, which encouraged the domestic industry. Refining was so successful that British merchants began to export their surplus out to countries in Europe, as well as re-exporting large amounts of brown sugar around the world. This helped to solidify the nation’s balance of trade. Where once the Dutch and Portuguese had dominated the European market, England was fast becoming the sweetshop of Europe.

The multi-faceted story of sugar’s ascent and the growth of the nation’s sweet tooth tells us more about early industrial and capitalist activity in England. While eventually the French overtook Britain as chief European suppliers of sugar in the 18th century, the early sugar trade provided British merchants with a model which was then adopted and adapted for later goods including cotton, and which catalysed the industrial revolution in the following centuries.

Above all the story of sugar is a reminder of the reliance of Britain’s metropolitan economy on the colonies. Integral to – and inextricable from – this story of economic growth is the backbreaking toil of enslaved Africans who produced the cane and enabled our taste for sweetness.

How quickly can the US economy bounce back as states ease coronavirus restrictions?

Insight from Peter Morici, University of Maryland business professor and former chief economist for the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Long lines were being reported at stores across England on Monday as many of those deemed nonessential businesses during the coronavirus lockdown reopened their doors for the first time since late March, attracting throngs of shoppers looking to buy everything from sneakers to toys.

Despite instances of pushing and shoving at a Nike store in London, customers generally appeared to abide by the social distancing requirement to stay at least six feet apart as they awaited their turn to enter the stores.

“This has been planned, we’ve been really missing it,” Olivia Copeland, a 25-year-old who spent more than $250 at budget clothes retailer Primark in Liverpool during an outing with a friend, told The Associated Press. “It is nice to get back out, it’s better than being stuck in the house.”

Nike employees speak to people lining up outside the Niketown shop in hopes of getting them to maintain social distancing in London on Monday. (AP)

Monday’s reopening of shops, from department stores to booksellers and electronic retailers, only applies to England. Scotland and Wales are taking a more tentative approach to the easing of the coronavirus restrictions. Northern Ireland’s stores reopened last week.

England also saw zoos, safari parks, and drive-in cinemas reopen on Monday.

The new shopping experience is anything but normal, though.

Shops are limiting numbers and are providing hand sanitizers at the door as well as creating one-way traffic systems inside. Plastic screens protect workers from shoppers at payment counters and some shops will only take cards, not cash. At the Apple store on Regent Street in central London, staff checked customers’ temperatures and insisted upon face coverings.

Not all shops in England are reopening. Many told the Associated Press that the social distancing guidelines are just too difficult to maintain and are urging the British government to reduce the 6-feet requirement.

Shoppers queue up outside a Primark store as it reopened in Birmingham, England, on Monday. (AP/PA)

Although England’s daily virus-related death rates have fallen to below those seen before the lockdown, there are concerns of a potential second spike. The U.K., as a whole, has recorded 41,698 coronavirus-related deaths, the third-highest in the world behind the United States and Brazil.

But customers are being encouraged to “be sensible” as the government seeks to reopen the economy “gradually and carefully.” Figures last week showed that the U.K. economy shrank by 20 percent in April alone.

And foot traffic is not expected to return to pre-lockdown levels anytime soon.

At London’s Oxford Street, normally teeming with shoppers crowded shoulder-to-shoulder, businesses have installed scores of signs to ensure social distancing. Some sidewalks have been widened and extra bike stations were put up to encourage shoppers to travel there without using the city’s Underground subway.

Customers walk inside the Selfridges department store in London on Monday. (AP)

With virtually no tourists in town, London’s entire West End shopping and theater district also is expected to see just 10 to 15 percent of its normal customers this week.

John Lewis, a popular British department store with outlets around the country, is hoping to turn the lower shopper numbers into an advantage.

“I’m hopeful that, while the overall atmosphere will feel a bit different to them, what they’ll actually find is a kind of pleasant surprise that it’s calm, it’s pleasant, it’s well ordered,” Andrew Murphy, its director of operations, told the Associated Press. “But it’s also still got the real advantage of the physical shopping experience and the things that you can’t do online.”

To lure wary shoppers back, the upscale department store Selfridges has scheduled street performers to entertain anyone lining up, while DJs will play music inside. Selfridges said the last time it had to close its doors was in 1941 when it was hit by a bomb during World War II.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Study finds 10 sq metres of space is required per shopper to stick to government’s 2-metre guidelines

A John Lewis store in Southampton. Shoppers in large retail premises will need a ‘halo’ of at least 11 sq metres in order to stick to government advice on social distancing, a study has found. Photograph: Naomi Baker/Getty Images

A John Lewis store in Southampton. Shoppers in large retail premises will need a ‘halo’ of at least 11 sq metres in order to stick to government advice on social distancing, a study has found. Photograph: Naomi Baker/Getty Images

High street retailers must give each shopper a minimum of 10 sq metres of space if they are to maintain social distancing rules, a new study has found, prompting businesses to complain that a lack of official guidance has left reopening plans in chaos.

With 10 days to go until most non-essential shops reopen in England, a research paper by Manchester Metropolitan and Cardiff universities has concluded that larger shops must allow substantially more than a 2-metre distance for each person so that they can move freely.

The study, which uses tessellated modelling – a combination of circles and squares to indicate available space – finds that people need 10 sq metres in smaller shops, 11 sq metres in larger shops, and 12 sq metres in outdoor spaces where they move more rapidly. That is up to three times as much space as the 4 sq metres needed around stationary people to maintain 2 metres of social distancing, according to the modelling.

The expert analysis was produced because its authors say that the official advice on reopening fails to set out how to practically enforce the 2-metre distancing guidelines.

Retailers say the report highlights the failure of the government to produce adequate advice for shops as they return to business. The official advice simply tells people to consider how many people can “reasonably” fit and to “limit the number of customers in the store”.

“I’m surprised we haven’t got clear guidance that says how many people you can have in a shop of a certain size,” said Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA). “That would create an equal footing in every shop. The risk is that you get a race to the bottom on a street. Consumers will be wary of shops that have no hard and fast policies.”

Large and small shops are scrambling to prepare for the reopening of the high street on 15 June, with businesses experimenting with measures from “browsing by appointment” to using floral designs for distance warning stickers because they are believed to be more reassuring.

But Goodacre said the difficulty of estimating how many shoppers would be in an average store – alongside complicating factors such as the fact that customers were more likely to buy something if they had been queuing – made it hard to predict the impact of social distancing on business.

With an estimated 70% of pre-coronavirus trade needed to break even, Goodacre said retailers would “be lucky to see 30-40% of sales with this kind of capacity”.

The report’s conclusions are based on the speed and unpredictability of people’s movements, which means they are much more likely to get near each other when shopping than when queuing or sitting at a desk – and therefore require a bigger “halo”.

Chris Turner, the chief executive of British BIDs – the representative group for Business Improvement Districts – said the report showed that maintaining a 2-metre distance was “hugely problematic”.

“When you do the sums, you find that a small cocktail bar can fit about two people in,” he added. He warned that more planning needed to be done to prepare shared high street space, saying: “Retailers are finding creative ways to deal with this 2-metre malarkey – but they can’t afford to have them all queuing outside at the same time as it stands because if everybody does that it’ll be chaos.”

Prof Cathy Parker, one of the report’s authors, said that “people don’t want to go from one place to another and see that the numbers are really different. Anything that’s going to make people think the rules are being broken and it’s a risky environment, that’s a problem.”

“It’s fine to see everybody queuing up, that doesn’t look like a risk,” she added. “But telling people to keep 2 metres apart in shops where people are bunching … You can tell retailers to manage capacity but how do they work that out? None of it is visible in the government guidelines.”

Ministers are continuing to debate whether social distancing rules could be relaxed to 1 metre without risking a rapid rise in the coronavirus “R” rate that will determine whether the UK faces a second wave of infections.

Some shops, pubs and restaurants are calling for a change to 1-metre distancing, in line with World Health Organization guidelines. The research found that such a reduction would mean that only about 5 to 6 sq metres would be needed per shopper.

But while Turner said that for many hospitality businesses “it will not be financially viable to reopen unless the distance is reduced from 2 metres” and called for the minimum to be reviewed, he noted that the uncertainty over the final guidance risked “tossing all the planning into disarray”.

“There’s a real sense that the government is making it up as it goes along,” he said.

​• This article was amended on 9 June 2020 to clarify the type of modelling used in the study, and to remove a graphic which, ​while showing the correct figures, did not show the exact modelling used to arrive at these figures.

The public is advised to consider wearing face coverings in enclosed public spaces such as shops, trains and buses to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

• People who use public transport or visit shops should consider covering their mouth and nose based on advice from SAGE
• Face coverings are not a replacement for social distancing and regular handwashing which remain the most important actions, says Chief Medical Officer
• Public urged not to buy medical grade masks so they can be saved for frontline health and care workers, and instead make their own face coverings at home

The public is advised to consider wearing face coverings in enclosed public spaces where you may be more likely to come into contact with people you do not normally meet, the government announced today.

After careful consideration of the latest scientific evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), the government confirmed face coverings can help reduce the risk of transmission in some circumstances.

Face coverings can help us protect each other and reduce the spread of the disease if you are suffering from coronavirus but not showing symptoms. People with coronavirus symptoms, as well as members of their household, should continue to follow the advice to self-isolate.

They may be beneficial in places where it is hard to follow maintain social distancing measures. This applies when using public transport, such as trains, buses and metro systems, or when visiting shops.

They do not need to be worn outdoors, while exercising, in schools, in workplaces such as offices and retail, by those who may find them difficult to wear, such as children under two or primary aged children who cannot use them without assistance, or those who may have problems breathing while wearing a face covering.

The public is being strongly urged not to purchase surgical masks or respirators. These are prioritised for healthcare workers working in more high-risk environments where the risk is greatest.

Instead the public is encouraged to make face coverings at home, using scarves or other textile items that many will already own. Read the guidance on how to wear and make a cloth face covering.

Health Minister Jo Churchill said:

At all times our strategy for keeping the public and the NHS safe during this crisis has been guided by the science.

Today, thanks to the evidence provided by our expert scientists, we are advising people to consider wearing a face covering if they can in enclosed public spaces where social distancing is impossible, for example on public transport or in shops. This may help prevent you spreading the virus to others.

You do not need a clinical mask which is prioritised for our healthcare workers. Instead a face covering is sufficient and we encourage people to make these at home with items they will already own.

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer said:

Wearing a face covering is an added precaution that may have some benefit in reducing the likelihood that a person with the infection passes it on.

The most effective means of preventing the spread of this virus remains following social distancing rules and washing your hands regularly. It does not remove the need to self-isolate if you have symptoms.

COVID-19 can be spread directly by droplets from coughs, sneezes and speaking. These droplets can also be picked up from surfaces by touch and subsequently from touching the face. That is why hand hygiene is so important in controlling the infection.

Evidence shows a face covering can help in reducing the spread of droplets and therefore potentially infecting others, and could help to reduce the spread of infection as lockdown measures start to be lifted. It is important people refrain from touching their face covering when wearing it, where possible, to avoid hand to mask transmission of the virus.

Government will not be supplying face coverings centrally as at home items and fabrics readily available on the market can be used, but it is important to wash them after every use.

Research from the WHO showed that where masks were recommended for prolonged periods of time, some wearers failed to maintain good handwashing practices or follow social distancing policies, putting others at risk. As England has demonstrated strong adherence to social distancing, the government is confident face coverings can be recommended as an added precaution in certain environments rather than an essential part of social distancing policies.

For workers in various sectors, or in public transport, the government is advising they continue to follow the advice of their employers and make sensible workplace adjustments. Further guidance on safer workplaces and on transport will be published shortly.

Government has produced guidance for employees and in it they emphasise and reassure employers that for the majority the most effective way they can ensure that their employees are safe at work is to make sensible workplace adjustments, including erecting perspex screens which many supermarkets have already introduced.

Face coverings do not need to be worn in schools.

Apple today announced that its 32 retail stores in England and one in Northern Ireland will be reopening on Monday, June 15. The company’s stores in Wales and Scotland will remain closed until restrictions are eased in those countries.

In a statement shared with The Independent, Apple reiterated the safety procedures that it has implemented at its reopened stores, including temperature checks, social distancing, increased cleaning, and a limit on how many customers are allowed inside its stores at once. Apple is also requiring that all employees and customers wear a face covering while inside its stores and will provide one to customers who do not bring one.

While in-store sales will be permitted, Apple has placed an emphasis on Genius Bar service and support for the time being. Apple continues to remind customers that its products can be ordered on its website for home delivery.

Apple has reopened over 300 of its retail stores around the world — around 60 percent of its locations. In a letter to customers last month, Apple said that it looks at all available data before deciding to reopen a store, including local cases, near and long‑term trends, and guidance from national and local health officials. Apple also said that it would not rule out the possibility of closing a store again should local conditions warrant.

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. and if i lived in England, i’d wanna “live” in this store..

Absolutely. Face masks are now the “must have” fashion accessory of 2020. An Apple branded one would be a supurb collector’s item.

Swedish furniture giant Ikea is set to reopen 19 stores across England and Northern Ireland from June 1, although Irish branches will remain closed in accordance with Government guidelines.

In addition, click and collect facilities will begin reopening on a phased basis in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while bricks-and-mortar outlets remain shut in Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.

On Friday, Ikea released a statement announcing its reopening plans in the UK and Ireland, saying: ‘In march, prior to the Government lockdown, Ikea voluntarily closed its stores, to ensure customer and co-worker safety.

Swedish furniture giant Ikea is set to reopen 19 stores across England and Northern Ireland from June 1, although Irish branches will remain closed in accordance with Government guidelines. Pic: Shutterstock

‘Drawing on its experience of reopening Ikea stores safely in a number of countries around the world and following new Government guidance around social distancing and safe ways of working, Ikea is looking forward to reopening its stores, having implemented a series of enhanced safety measures to protect co-workers and those customers wanting to shop in-store.’

Additional safety measures implemented by the homeware chain include limiting the number of customers granted access to stores at any one time using a staggered entry system and restricted car parking; and placing Social Distance Wardens throughout the store to assist customers in navigating the new one-way system and to ensure social distancing measures are being followed.

Furthermore, Ikea has put in place additional hand sanitiser facilities and will orchestrate more frequent deep cleaning routines for bags, trolleys, bathrooms, rest areas, equipment and touch screens, while screens will be erected at key areas such as checkouts, service points and customer returns.

Additional safety measures implemented by the homeware chain include limiting the number of customers granted access to stores at any one time using a staggered entry system and restricted car parking. Pic: James Horan/Photocall Ireland

Ikea has also confirmed that planning services will only be available online; cashless payments only will be accepted; play areas and customer restaurants will remain closed; and the Swedish Food Market will open with the Bistro offering a takeaway service.

Speaking about Ikea’s reopening plans, CEO and CSO in the UK and Ireland Peter Jelkeby stated: ‘We’re looking forward to warmly welcoming customers and co-workers back into our stores from June 1.

‘Their health and safety remains our top priority, and that’s why we’ve put in place extensive measures to ensure the safety and comfort of customers and co-workers.

Furthermore, Ikea has put in place additional hand sanitiser facilities and will orchestrate more frequent deep cleaning routines for bags, trolleys, bathrooms, rest areas, equipment and touch screens. Pic: Shutterstock

‘While the experience might be a little different to before — it’s the same Ikea, with the vision to “create a better everyday life for the many people”, and the ambition to inspire people through our brilliant affordable range and home furnishing advice.

‘Throughout lockdown, we’ve had the unique privilege of being a part of people’s everyday lives at home, and we’re committed to continuing doing whatever we can to support our customers and co-workers on this next part of the journey we take together.’

The oldest candy store in the world has been selling traditional sweets since 1827.

The Oldest Sweet Shop in England, as the name rightfully suggests, is the oldest candy store in England. It’s a bold claim, but also a modest one, as the Oldest Sweet Shop in England is, in fact, the oldest candy store in the world, as recognized by Guinness World Records.

The shop is located in the small but historic market town of Pateley Bridge in North Yorkshire, in a building that began life as an apothecary in the early 1600s. The sweet shop itself opened in 1827, and many of the original fittings remain: the vintage wooden counter, the oil lamps, the antique measuring scales, and the old cash register.

And then, of course, there are the sweets. Rows upon rows of glass confectioner’s jars line the shelves, each filled with colorful candies that recent generations may not recognize at all.

Most of the offerings are traditional sweets, some of which are now hard to find in modern stores. Among the traditional classics are humbugs, aniseed balls, pear drops, and lemon bon bons, as well as plenty of chocolate and fudge. More recent “retro sweets” include popping candy, Parma Violets, kola cubes, and Sherbet Fountains.

Licorice—or liquorice, for all the Brits out there—is also sold in various shapes and sizes. For a proper local classic, buy a quarter-pound bag of Pontefract cakes: small, roughly-circular black sweets made of licorice that have been manufactured for centuries in Pontefract, about a one-hour drive to the southeast of Pateley Bridge.

For the last 20 years, the Oldest Sweet Shop in England has been run by Keith Tordoff, a former detective. In December 2019, however, Tordoff announced that he’d be running for election as the county’s next police, fire, and crime commissioner. And with that came another major announcement: the Oldest Sweet Shop in England was now up for sale.

The price? A fairly reasonable £399,000 (about $520,000), especially for a piece of history. At time of writing, it appears that no one has yet purchased the business. So if you ever dreamed of owning the oldest candy store in the world, now’s your chance.

LONDON—For many in England, it’s been a day of much-needed retail therapy.

Long lines stretched down streets in England on June 15 as shops selling items considered nonessential during the coronavirus pandemic, such as sneakers and toys, welcomed customers for the first time since the UK was put into lockdown in late March.

Starved of the retail experience for the best part of three months, the keenest of shoppers rushed to make up for lost time, to pick up a bargain, browse, or just have a chat.

Most appeared to abide by the rules of the “new normal” to remain two meters (6.5 feet) apart as they awaited their turn to enter the stores, though pushing and shoving was evident in some places, like the NikeTown store on Oxford Street, London’s famous shopping district.

For Pamela Crystal, 46, it was a far more relaxing experience at the nearby upscale Selfridges department store.

“You don’t realize how much you miss physical shopping until you actually come into the shop. It’s great,” she said. “It’s nice to see people talk to salespeople. It feels like we’re normal again.”

The June 15 reopening of shops only applies to England. Scotland and Wales are taking a more tentative approach to the easing of the coronavirus restrictions. Northern Ireland’s stores reopened last week. England also saw zoos, safari parks, and drive-in cinemas reopen on June 15.

The new shopping experience is anything but normal, though.

Shops are limiting numbers and are providing hand sanitizers as well as creating one-way traffic systems inside. Plastic screens protect workers from shoppers at payment counters and some shops won’t accept cash. At the Apple store on Regent Street in central London, staff checked customers’ temperatures and insisted upon face coverings.

Roger Shakles, managing director of Sewcraft, a small haberdashery shop in the central England town of Swindon, said people have to sanitize their hands before entering.

“We’re a very tactile shop, people have to feel and touch to get an idea of what they’re buying,” he said.

Not all shops in England are reopening. Many say the social distancing guidelines are just too difficult and are urging the British government to reduce the 2-meter requirement.

Critics have also accused the government of being too hasty given still-high levels of daily coronavirus infections. Though the country’s daily virus-related death rates have fallen to below those seen before the lockdown, there are worries of a second spike. The U.K., as a whole, has recorded 41,736 coronavirus-related deaths, the third-highest in the world behind the United States and Brazil.

Customers are being encouraged to “be sensible” as the government seeks to reopen the economy “gradually and carefully.” Figures last week showed that the U.K. economy, which depends heavily on retail, shrank by 20 percent in April alone.

On Oxford Street, businesses have installed scores of signs to ensure social distancing. Some sidewalks have been widened and extra bike stations were put up to encourage shoppers to travel there without using the city’s Underground subway.

With virtually no tourists in town, London’s entire West End shopping and theater district is expected to see just 10 percent to 15 percent of its normal customers this week. International tourists now face a 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Britain.

Linda Pilkington, who owns a high-end perfume boutique off London’s designer and jewelry hub of Bond Street, says the shopping experience will inevitably be dulled because restaurants, theaters, and other entertainment facilities remain closed.

“People like the social side of shopping. When you hit Bond Street and all the grand shops, it’s an exciting event,” she said. “All those people coming to London for a show, making a weekend of it, that won’t be there. It’s just not going to be the same.”

Pilkington’s tiny shop, Ormonde Jayne, will let only one customer in at a time. Shoppers are encouraged to sanitize their hands and the whole store needs to be wiped down every time a shopper leaves.

John Lewis, a popular British department store with outlets around the country, is trying to be optimistic.

“I’m hopeful that, while the overall atmosphere will feel a bit different to them, what they’ll actually find is a kind of pleasant surprise that it’s calm, it’s pleasant, it’s well ordered,” said Andrew Murphy, director of operations. “But it’s also still got the real advantage of the physical shopping experience and the things that you can’t do online.”

Analysts say the pandemic has accelerated a shift to online shopping, not least because many businesses need to cut rental costs to survive.

To lure wary shoppers back, Selfridges lined up street performers to entertain anyone queuing, while DJs will play music inside to liven things up. Selfridges said the last time it had to close its doors was in 1941, when it was hit by a bomb during World War II.

“We’ve nearly doubled our sales online, but clearly three months’ closure is going to have an impact on our business,” said Meave Wall, store director at Selfridges. “Today’s the first day of what’s going to be quite a long journey back for us but based on the customers we’ve seen queueing this morning we’re definitely optimistic of a return to the stores.”

// Dobbies to reopen its stores across England from tomorrow

// Social distancing, queuing system, in-store customer limits, protective screens, PPE and hand sanitisers will feature

Dobbies it set to re-open its 54 stores across England from tomorrow after receiving guidance from the government that garden centres may open during the lockdown.

The gardening retailer said the safety of staff and customers was the priority and social distancing measures have been implemented to allow the stores to operate safely along with a limit on customer numbers in the stores at one time and a queuing system.

Hand sanitising and trolley cleaning stations will also be available at all store entrances.

Protective screens have been installed at tills and customers will be asked to pay with card or contactless, where possible.

Appropriate PPE has been provided for staff, who will also receive training and regular briefings on how to keep themselves and customers safe, and rigorous daily hygiene routines will continue throughout the stores.

While the in-store restaurants and soft plays will remain temporarily closed, Dobbies said it would offer a takeaway menu from Friday.

“We have taken care to ensure we are following guidance provided by the government, British Retail Consortium and Horticultural Trade Association to reopen responsibly,” Dobbies chief executive Graeme Jenkins said.

“Our team is well prepared, social distancing measures are in place and we look forward to welcoming customers back into our stores across England.

“I would like to thank our team members and customers for their understanding during these uncertain times.”

All garden centres reopening should put in place social distancing and safety measures.

Garden centres will be able to reopen to the public from today (Wednesday 13 May).

All garden centres reopening should put in place social distancing, cleaning and protective measures for both staff and customers. In particular, they should ensure that people can stay 2m apart wherever possible, as is already the case in supermarkets and other shops which have remained open in recent weeks. Further detailed guidance for businesses has been published by BEIS.

Biosecurity Minister Lord Gardiner said:

We know that this time of year is crucial for the horticulture industry and are very aware of the impacts of coronavirus on the sector.

Our decision to reopen garden centres and nurseries in a safe way, will allow businesses to sell their products directly to the public and in doing so bringing about wider benefits to consumers, especially for physical and mental wellbeing, which gardening can bring.

It is vital all garden centres implement strict social distancing and I urge businesses to use the Government’s extensive guidance and the Horticultural Trades Association’s Safe Trading Guidance when planning their reopening.

To help Garden Centres put in place appropriate measures, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has also produced Safe Trading Guidance, closely aligned to the Government’s guidance and specifically for garden centres, which includes a series of recommendations to protect customers.

The guidance document has been based on insight from leading HTA retailers, the British Retail Consortium, and from government advice as a recommendation of best practice regarding social distancing. Recommendations include advice on customer numbers in stores, entrance and exit protocols, and queueing and checkout procedures. It also contains practical advice on how to protect the health and wellbeing of staff.

The date you can head back to H&M stores has been confirmed by the fashion chain – along with the steps they’ve taken to let people stay safe while they shop

• 12:32, 9 JUN 2020
• Updated 15:28, 9 JUN 2020

H&M has confirmed to Mirror Online when it will reopen the majority of its stores in England.

H&M closed it’s UK branches in March, initially for just a two-week period.

Since then it has been operating online, and to help customers out it also extended its returns policy from 28 to 100 days.

But from Monday, 15 June, shops will be opening up to customers again in England with others following across the rest of the UK “when we are able to do so”.

H&M UK manager Toni Galli said: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming customers back to our stores, and would like to thank everybody for their continued patience as we have navigated this situation together.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our incredible H&M colleagues working in roles within our logistics and customer services departments that have continued to support our online business whilst our stores remained closed.”

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H&M added that the health and safety of customers and staff was still its “number one priority” – and as such stores will be a little different.

“There will be many restrictions in place meaning conditions will remain challenging and we are flexible and humble about the fact from one day to another, the situation may change,” a spokeswoman for the firm told Mirror Money.

Examples of safety measures include:

• Increased hygiene and cleaning routines
• Social distancing guidelines such as separate entrances and exits
• Limiting customer numbers entering stores
• Closed fittings rooms
• Limiting the number of tills accepting cash
• Plexi screens for till points
• Suspended click and collect services

Since then the chain closed doors back in March, it’s not been idle – announcing last week that it’s been making in-kind donations of T-shirts, underwear and other items available to healthcare workers struggling to find time to get home and change between shifts.

H&M also donated 30,000 pieces of clothing to charity organisations to go to patients, as well as making donations for children’s homes and giving charities access to its social media brands.

H&M has been reopening stores in countries where local restrictions and social distancing rules allow since April.

Thousands of shops are reopening for the first time in months

• 18:07, 14 JUN 2020
• Updated 18:08, 14 JUN 2020

On Monday June 15, thousands of shops across the UK will reopen their doors to shoppers.

Shops and shopping centres are expected to be busy as Brits are allowed to browse for things like clothes, shoes and handbags once again, and social distancing measures have been put in place.

However, not all shops are reopening, so if you’re planning on heading out, you’ll need to check ahead to see if the store/s you want to visit are opening.

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Here is a full list of all the major brands reopening in England this week, according to the Mirror.

• Apple – all 32 stores in England and Northern Ireland – customers will have their temperature checked and be required to wear masks while visiting, although the chain will provide these if needed
• Argos – 140 stand alone stores – Argos branches inside Sainsbury’s have been operating for most of lockdown, but the chain’s stand alone stores have been closed. That ends on Monday with 140 branches reopening. You can use the Argos store locator to get updates on your nearest branch
• BT – After a lot of hard work behind the scenes, BT is reopening shops in England with a snazzy new SMS booking system – so if you visit when the store is full, you’ll get receive a text when the shop is ready to welcome you back
• Curry’s/PC World – 131 stores – select stores across the UK will open as Tech Help Hubs, it’s also introducing a drive-thru order and collect service
• Debenhams – 50 stores in England – The first 50 Debenhams will be reopening in England on Monday, with 120 up and running again afterwards. Sadly, 20 will remain shut for good after discussions with landlords broke down.

Stock up on sundries from harvesters and makers, brewers and bakers.

New Englanders have always prided themselves on the craftsmanship of their wares, both edible and not. Indeed, there’s nary a town without a tavern pulling locally made pints, a country store selling jams and jellies, or a shop showcasing works by area artisans. These are just some of the items that merit inclusion on a list of must-have New England souvenirs.

Craft Beer and Cider

You can sample (and shop) your way across New England brewing history, from one of America’s oldest outfits, Rhode Island’s Narragansett (1890), to some of the nation’s first craft breweries: Maine’s D.L. Geary (1983) and Massachusetts’ Boston Beer Company (1984) of Sam Adams fame. Smaller breweries with acclaimed suds include The Alchemist in Vermont, Smuttynose in New Hampshire, Trillium in Massachusetts, Tilted Barn in Rhode Island, and New England Brewing Co. in Connecticut.

There’ve been apple orchards in New England since, oh, the mid-1600s. Where there are apples, there’s cider—hard or not, here it’s elevated to an art. Notable cideries include Maine’s Urban Farm Fermentory, which also has mead; Connecticut’s innovative New England Cider Company; Massachusetts’ Far from the Tree; and Vermont’s family-friendly Cold Hollow, which also makes cider donuts. Yum.

Branches reopened today as part of an easing of lockdown restrictions in England

• 14:09, 1 JUN 2020
• Updated 14:22, 1 JUN 2020

Lengthy queues formed as Ikea stores in England reopened earlier, it’s been revealed.

The queues at some of the furniture company’s branches appeared to take over whole car parks as customers waited for hours in the heat for doors to open at 10am today (June 1).

Ikea, which does not have any stores in North Wales, closed its doors back in March amid the coronavirus pandemic and government regulation restricting businesses in the UK, but continued to trade online.

As reported by WalesOnline, the reopening of stores in England today has led to massive queues – with social media users branding customers “crazy” for waiting in such lengthy lines.

Twitter users shared images and videos of the long queues outside Ikea stores, with some areas experiencing 20 degree heat.

One person wrote: “The queue has got to be [a] good half a mile long, easy. Why?”

Another said: “If you’re in the 5 mile queue for Ikea then you’re crazy.”

Whilst one tweet read: “Can’t believe the queues I’ve seen at Ikea!! People are mental.”

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Another even speculated that customers may have travelled from North Wales, tweeting: “[I] guess a lot will be from North Wales [and] Liverpool and have come so far they will queue.”

Ikea has encouraged customers to shop alone, where possible, and has introduced a number of social distancing measures.

In a statement to WalesOnline, the company said: “To ensure a safe shopping experience we ask that if you can, please shop alone. Only bring one other person from the same household, if you need special assistance or if you need to bring your children with you.”

A spokesperson added that a queuing system would be in operation outside stores to manage entry and that signage throughout stores would remind customers of social distancing guidelines.

Stores in Wales, none of which are in our region, are expected to reopen later this month – after the First Minister, Mark Drakeford, suggested non-essential shops should prepare to open in three weeks.

You can have your say on this story by sharing it on social media.

The chain said its entire 309-strong estate in England will reopen across shopping centres, high streets and retail parks from Monday.

JD Sports has given staff social distance training (Nick Ansell/PA)

By Holly Williams, PA Deputy City Editor

June 10 2020 08:04 AM

Retailer JD Sports has confirmed all its stores across England will reopen from June 15, as lockdown restrictions ease further.

T he chain said its entire 309-strong estate in England will reopen to customers across shopping centres, high streets and retail parks, after the Government gave the go-ahead for non-essential retail to restart.

JD Sports will also open its high street and open air stores in Northern Ireland from June 12, but shopping centres there will remain closed.

The group is planning to reopen across Scotland and Wales when lockdown restrictions are eased.

Following 12 weeks of lockdown, we recognise the continued importance of maintaining social distancing and a safe environment in which to work and shop, and therefore have taken all necessary steps and precautions to give our staff and customers the confidence that they can safely return to our stores Peter Cowgill, executive chairman

Retailers across the sector are preparing to reopen on Monday, with the likes of Marks & Spencer and a slimmed-down Debenhams among those once again opening their doors to customers.

But shoppers will see closed changing rooms, restrictions on touching goods and one-way systems in place, as part of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

JD Sports said it will be allowing a limited number of shoppers in stores, providing hand sanitising stations, protective screens at tills, separating returned stock for 72 hours to reduce transmission, and closing changing rooms, in line with Government guidance.

It has also given staff social distance training ahead of reopening, while each store will have a “host” near the entrance to manage access and answer customer questions on safety measures.

Peter Cowgill, executive chairman at JD Sports, said: “Following 12 weeks of lockdown, we recognise the continued importance of maintaining social distancing and a safe environment in which to work and shop, and therefore have taken all necessary steps and precautions to give our staff and customers the confidence that they can safely return to our stores.”

HMV is to reopen its stores on Monday, with a series of social distancing measures coming into place.

The music retailer, which also owns Fopp, said it would reopen 93 stores across England and Northern Ireland on 15 June.

The remaining 15 HMV stores across Scotland and Wales will reopen when further government guidance is in place.

Hand sanitiser stations will be widely available across stores, and customers will be required to apply it before picking up merchandise.

Meanwhile, a new “list and leave” service will mean customers can drop off a list of the items they want to buy, and a member of staff will pack them from the shelves ready to collect.

HMV will also bring in a new “ring and reserve” feature, meaning they can order ahead.

Staff at HMV have been given training in how to maintain social distancing, as well as instructions on hygiene and PPE.

Till screens and social distancing signage have also been installed across its whole store estate.

Any undamaged returned items will be quarantined for 72 hours before being placed back on to the shop floor.

“Our teams have been working on plans to reopen since the day we had to close our doors,” HMV owner Doug Putman said.

“We’ve redesigned our store layouts so that customers can make their way through the stores, buy what they want and pay seamlessly, while maintaining spaces for those who want to browse while maintaining social distancing.

“We’ve sought to keep as much of what people love about the HMV and Fopp experience intact and build on the experience whilst ensuring that customers can shop with us comfortably and confidently.”

• 1 Jun 2020, 17:11
• Updated : 1 Jun 2020, 17:13

THE Entertainer is set to reopen 148 stores in England on June 15.

The toy retailer will have social distancing measures in place, as well as a new fast-track service to help reduce the number of shoppers inside stores at one time.

The new “ready in ten” service will allow shoppers to place orders on their mobile phone, which can then be collected in ten minutes.

If shoppers already know what they want to buy, they’ll also be able to tell staff at the front of stores, who will then fast track them to payment areas.

The Entertainer has run an online-only service during the coronavirus lockdown.

The retailer initially offered delivery only for online orders, but then introduced a zero-contact click and collect service at 128 shops.

What shops can open from June 15?

BORIS Johnson has confirmed that from June 15, non-essential shops including charity and betting shops can reopen.

Here is the full-list of stores that will be allowed to reopen from mid-June:

• Fashion shops
• Charity shops
• Betting shops and arcades
• Tailors, dress fitters and fashion designers
• 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
• Craft fairs
• Similar types of retail

Stores that have reopened:

• Hardware and homeware stores
• Garden centres
• Car dealerships
• Indoor and outdoor markets

Shops that have been allowed to stay open during lockdown:

• 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

It closed all stores on March 23, in line with government restrictions for non-essential retailers.

The go-ahead for stores to reopen follows the government easing its lockdown restrictions, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirming all non-essential retail can reopen on June 15.

However, this is only if the government is satisfied that the UK is still meeting the five tests needed to ease lockdown measures.

This includes the rate of coronavirus infection decreasing to manageable levels and the NHS having the capacity to provide critical care.

The Entertainer told The Sun that opening dates for stores in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are yet to be confirmed.

This is due to these countries having different coronavirus restrictions in place, compared to England.

The Entertainer is advising customers to keep an eye on its online store finder tool to see the latest information on store reopenings.

UK TRAVEL has opened up this week after the Prime Minister scaled back limitations imposed on driving at the beginning of the countrywide coronavirus lockdown. Can you travel to Wales from England?

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Boris Johnson renegotiated controls imposed on travel in the UK this week following his nationwide address on Sunday. The Prime Minister said people may now drive for extended periods and take part in “unlimited” exercise from Wednesday this week.

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Can you travel to Wales from England?

In his address on Sunday, the Prime Minister opened up the UK’s roads and households after more than a month on lockdown.

He said from Wednesday people can enjoy extended time outdoors in the spring weather and drive as much as they wish.

However, his easement applies strictly to England, as Scotland and Wales have their own devolved rules.

Can I travel to Wales from England? (Image: GETTY)

UK travel: Boris Johnson has allowed people to travel further afield and take “unlimited” exercise (Image: GETTY)

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The Scottish and Welsh Governments have chosen to continue on in lockdown while the Prime Minister releases some of England’s measures.

In Wales, local government still prohibits travel beyond their local area, even to exercise.

As such, Welsh officials have those living in England not to make the trip over the border.

Speaking to BBC Wales, Counsel General and Member of the Senedd Jeremy Miles said they were not “permitting” people to travel to destinations in Wales via car.

UK travel: Wales will remain on lockdown for another three weeks (Image: GETTY)

He said: “I want to be really clear about this. The position in Wales is very different from the position in England in relation to that.

“Our regulations do not permit people to get in their cars and drive to destinations in Wales and this includes people getting in their cars in England. We are not permitting that in Wales.”

Officials said they would fine anyone attempting to enter the country from England.

Mr Miles said “anyone” breaking local rules would receive a fine.

Travel: Mark Drakeford said Wales was “doing it right” (Image: GETTY)

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He added: “The police absolutely have power to do that.

“The rules in Wales do not permit people to get in their cars and travel long distances for leisure purposes so if anyone does that the police has powers to fine them for doing so.”

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford is amongst public figures who have launched scathing criticism at Boris Johnson’s coronavirus measures.

Speaking on Monday, the minister said he believed the Prime Minister hadn’t “got it right”.

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He said: “I think we’ve got it right in Wales and I don’t think they’ve got it right over the border.

“The further people go, the more the virus will spread.

“I have huge sympathy with people who have loved ones over the border.

“It’s part of the sacrifice we are all making, but we’re making it for a good reason.”

How many times a week you can visit Asda, Aldi, Tesco, Morrisons, M&S and Waitrose

• 11:01, 1 APR 2020
• Updated 13:14, 1 APR 2020

Ever since Boris Johnson announced the UK would be entering a lockdown period, people have been left confused about when they should shop, and how frequently they’re allowed to go.

The official Government guidelines currently state that people so go shopping ‘as infrequent as possible’, and only for ‘essentials’, but this has left many consumers confused.

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Some ministers have pointed out however, that people should only be going to the supermarket once a week and preferably alone if possible, reports North Wales Live.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the BBC that people should ‘try and shop just once a week’ and ‘just do the essentials, not everything else’.

While no official rules are currently enforced, supermarkets remain one of the most high-risk places to visit in terms of catching and spreading the coronavirus and with with the NHS stretched beyond its means, limiting supermarket trips is the best thing to do in terms of protecting yourself, others and the NHS.

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From cradle to grave, the National Health Service is a part of British life.

Today, more than ever, we should cherish those who dedicate themselves to our care as they work tirelessly to care for people in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

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The statement comes after some shoppers claimed they had been turned away from supermarkets because they had their children with them.

Asda, Aldi, Tesco and Sainsbury’s have all since clarified their stance on families taking children into their shops.

Aldi has said it has not restrictions on people shopping with family members, but it has asked customers to try to ensure that one person per household does the shopping alone where possible.

Tesco said it has not placed a ban on children but is trying to encourage people to shop with no more than one other person.

Sainsbury’s has said the same thing.

Asda said: “You may have seen posts being shared on social media suggesting that families with children won’t be allowed into our stores from tomorrow. This isn’t the case.

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“Everyone in the UK is being asked by the government to shop sensibly and only when required. Where needed, we are limiting the total number of shoppers we allow into a store at any one time.

“If possible, it would help us greatly if you could bring fewer family members when visiting our stores. This will help us maintain social distancing guidelines we already have in place.”

Basically, use your common sense and shop sensibly. If you can do a shop alone, do it. If it’s too difficult for you to do so because you’re a single parent, your partner is a key worker or you are/require a carer, but you need essentials, it’s okay not to do a solo trip.

LONDON (Reuters) – Fashion retailer Primark plans to reopen all 153 of its stores in England on June 15 as coronavirus restrictions are eased, encouraged by European stores that have already resumed trading.

The faster than expected reopening sent shares in Primark’s owner, Associated British Foods, up as much as 8% in early Monday trading.

All Primark stores were closed over 12-days from March 11 as the virus spread, costing it 650 million pounds a month in sales.

With governments now easing restrictions, Primark is trading from 112 stores across Europe and the United States, or 34% of total selling space. By June 15, it plans to have 281 stores open, or 79% of selling space, including all stores in England.

It hopes to have all of its 378 shops open by late June, including those in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

“Trading in our re-opened stores (including in Germany and Spain) has been both reassuring and encouraging, with customer queues outside most stores,” AB Foods said.

But it cautioned cumulative sales since reopening, on a like-for-like basis, were down on the same period last year.

It believes social distancing measures will likely only affect sales to some extent in its busiest stores, representing 10-20% of pre-COVID-19 total Primark sales.

Related Coverage

AB Foods finance chief John Bason told Reuters Primark had also placed hundreds of millions of pounds of orders with suppliers for autumn/winter stock, adding to existing stock worth 1.9 billion pounds.

Bason said Primark had no plans for a fire sale of excess stock as it would store much of it for next year, and would not re-think its lack of an online business.

AB Foods said it was too early to resume overall earnings guidance for its 2019-20 fiscal year, but said grocery operating profit would be ahead of previous expectations and it now expected a lower profit from AB Sugar.

Reporting by James Davey; editing by Gareth Jones and Mark Potter

Apple Stores in England and Northern Ireland are about to re-open.

Apple is about to re-open all its popular and much-loved Apple Stores in England and Northern Ireland, following weeks of closure because of concerns over Covid-19. The company has re-opened many of its stores around the world already, in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Australia, US, Canada, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Japan, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, UAE and Turkey.

Now it’s the turn of most of the British stores – the five stores across Scotland and Wales will also open when conditions permit.

Store opening hours will be different, and these new hours have just been posted online at for each location.

Though customers will be welcome to buy, it’s the Genius Bar which will be the main focus, providing advice, taking products to be fixed and – for the first time in weeks, returning repaired products to their owners.

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The Genius Bar is one of the most compelling things Apple has ever done, and appointments will be available online as usual. Additionally there will be walk-up sessions with the Geniuses.

If you haven’t been to an Apple Store since they were closed earlier this year, the experience is noticeably different as Apple ensures care is taken over cleanliness and social distancing.

For a start, Apple will strictly control how many people are in the store at a time, both customers and staff. Staffing numbers will be adjusted to ensure the level of service is unchanged.

On arrival, customers will have their temperature taken by a staffer with a contactless thermometer and easels in prominent positions will gently ask questions to enable customers to decide if this is the best moment for their visit.

Additionally, there’ll be reminders that it’s possible to buy online and have product delivered, or collect instore after purchasing online.

Since fewer people will be instore, a wait outside may occur. Apple is making it compulsory for visitors to wear masks at all times in the Store, and will provide masks for those who don’t have them.

Customers can have confidence that the iPhone, for instance, they pick up on the product table is in a hygienic condition, as regular cleaning regimens will be supplemented by regular deep-clean processes.

Apple Stores re-opening with social distancing precautions.

Although different countries have their own rules on social distancing, Apple is implementing a six-feet policy throughout its stores worldwide.

For now, the brilliant Today at Apple sessions will be on hold, but almost everything else Apple Stores usually offer will be there.

In a statement, Apple told me:

“We’re excited to begin welcoming visitors back to our stores in England and Northern Ireland on Monday. We’ve missed our customers and look forward to offering our support.

With many working and learning from home we look forward to providing the service and support they need, whether that be picking up a new product or getting help with one they already own. Our newly reopened stores have significant safety procedures including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings to ensure customers and employees continue to stay healthy. Our social distance protocol means a limited number of visitors in the store at one time so there may be a delay for walk-in customers. For more ways to shop and additional information on these new guidelines and store hours, please visit .

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19 and those working around the clock to treat, study and contain its spread.”

As Apple Stores around the world have re-opened, the emphasis on personal safety has been paramount. With these 33 stores about to be up and running again, Apple has recognized the public demand for visiting the company’s stores, whether to buy or use its services.

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GAME stores will re-open on June 15 in England and Northern Ireland, but with one or two changes.

GAME has announced plans to re-open stores in the UK from June 15.

In line with government guidance, GAME stores will re-open on Monday in England and Northern Ireland, and from June 18 in Wales.

Stores in Scotland are also ready to re-open, but will only do so when current guidelines are lifted.

You can check if and when your local store will re-open by visiting the GAME website and typing in your postcode.

It’s great news if you’re looking to grab a new game, pick up a console, or trade in some old classics, although it’s worth pointing out that the experience won’t be the same as you remember.

To limit the spread of COVID-19, the in-store Belong Arenas will remain closed, and customers won’t actually be able to browse the stores. Likewise, the number of people allowed in stores at any one time will be limited.

The news was announced in an email to customers: “You will be unable to browse our stores due to social distancing rules, but our knowledgeable staff will be able to advise you on any of your requirements.

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“GAME are encouraging customers to use their Click and Collect service as customers in store will be limited.

“Whilst GAME stores are opening, the Belong Arenas will remain closed for the time being and will look to re-open when Government Guidelines permit.”

Customers will be able to trade-in old games when the stores re-open, and traded stock will be isolated for three days before going back on sale.

“We are asking the customers to place their products they are wanting to Trade-In on the counter and advising customers to step back while the staff member picks the items up and checks the products,” a GAME spokesperson explains.

“All Trade-In products will be wiped clean with alcohol wipes. All the traded in stock will be isolated for 3 days before going out on sale.”

GAME Store UK (Image: GAME)

The stores re-open in time for the PS4 release of The Last of Us Part 2.

The Naughty Dog sequel takes place five years after the original game, as the survivors settle in Wyoming.

“After a deadly journey across post-pandemic USA, Ellie and Joel settle down in Wyoming,” reads the official description.

“Living in a thriving community gives them stability, despite the threat of the Infected and desperate survivors.

“When a violent event disrupts the peace, Ellie begins a relentless journey for justice. Hunting those responsible, she’s confronted by devastating physical and emotional repercussions of her actions.”

The full game will be available to purchase from July 19, exclusively for PS4.

Terracycle once sang the praises of intelligent globalization, and from kite-powered ships to the return of the airship, we’ve seen plenty of ways that international travel and commerce can be made less harmful to the environment. Nevertheless this globalized world can be a strange, strange place—especially if you’re concerned about our outrageous reliance on decreasing fossil fuels. Here’s an interesting story that caught my eye—apparently Chinese tourists are increasingly flocking to a small English village to buy “English” shoes. The only thing is, they’re made in China.

Closing Factories Become Retail Outlets for the Goods They Made

Writing over at The Guardian, Patrick Barkham describes how Street—the one-time home of manufacturing for Clark’s shoes—is becoming better known as the location for a factory-outlet mall, housed at the old shoe factory, that is attracting increasing amounts of Chinese tourists. Apparently the Chinese love Clarks’ shoes. This is a relationship that the local powers-that-be are keen to promote as they deal with the ongoing economic shock-waves of their declining manufacturing industries:

“Apart from lending its name to the shopping centre, Clarks, the biggest shoe brand in the world, has little to do with the success of Clarks Village. Its shoes are in fact now made in China, India, Brazil and Vietnam but not in Britain, after the site and the Village brand was sold. So the Chinese are flying to the site where Clarks used to make shoes to buy shoes that are actually made in China and sold in a shopping centre not owned by Clarks. This is globalisation’s very own coals- to-Newcastle.”

Brand is No Longer About Origin

Of course there is nothing particularly surprising about this state of affairs. Many of us who travel will pick up souvenirs or keep-sakes from the places we visit, often to find out that they are made elsewhere. And sometimes we just shop because it is cheaper. (The shoes on sale at Clark’s Village would cost twice as much in China.)

Modern branding is at least as much about story and heritage as it is the actual reality of how a product is made. Nevertheless, there are very real concerns about how long a country that doesn’t make things can trade off the heritage it once had. After all, doesn’t the story start to get old?

“How long can this British nation of shopkeepers trade on the status conferred by its history without actually making the things it sells? The replacement of factories with factory shopping in Street has certainly seen the status of jobs fall.”

It’s a good question, and one worth answering. As Barkham points out, if a nation is selling the shoes it used to make to the people who now make the shoes, there is a very real danger it has become the “nation of shopkeepers” it was always said to be. With authenticity being an increasingly prized asset in the branding world, companies and nations will need to think beyond pretty landscaping, old buildings and heritage plaques, and instead make some statements about who they really are, what they stand for, and what they actually do.

Waterstones will start to reopen its stores in England from Monday, after closing for nearly three months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The bookseller has outlined a number of measures to ensure the safety of customers and employees alike. Waterstones said given the varying size of branches, it may limit the number of customers shopping at any one time.

It has also introduced so-called “Browsing Trollies”, which will be positioned next to tills where customers can safely leave a book or item they have handled but do not want to buy. At the end of each day, stock from the trollies will be stored away for 3 days until the threat of virus transmission has been eliminated.

Hand sanitiser stations have been introduced for each shop, allowing customers to sanitise upon and entry and stations will also be placed by entrances to lifts. Waterstones has also said it has suggested staff wear face visors at all times and will provide them with face masks to wear at their own discretion.

The Prime Minister confirmed this week that all non-essential retail in England could reopen from 15 June, as the UK slowly eases out of the lockdown which was imposed in late March.

Government guidance insists social distancing guidelines are still adhered to. Waterstones is providing signage which will request two metre social distancing between staff and customers.

As part of these measures, the bookseller has requested customers use card payments, with rare exceptions including paper vouchers nearing their expiry date, or where customers have no access to contactless technology.

A number of household names will start to return to the “new normal” from Monday, including Marks & Spencer’s clothing stores and a select number of John Lewis stores.

Department store Harrods is also reopening its doors on Monday, and has said it will monitor how many customers it has in store at any one time.

Apple will reopen its retail stores in England and Northern Ireland on Monday, June 15. The tech giant has 32 stores in the former and one in the latter.

Out of Apple’s 510 stores, all but the 52 locations in Greater China closed temporarily on March 13. According to Apple’s blueprint, all stores will allow customers to make Genius Bar reservations, and those reopening their doors will require face coverings and temperature checks.

Dennis Sellers

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New physical safety and social distancing measures introduced in EE and BT stores to abide by Government Covid-19 social distancing and health and safety guidelines

Phased roll out starts in England on 15 th June – with half of stores in England open by the end of the first week, where we can safely do so

EE’s GreetMe virtual queueing system enables customers to book an in-store appointment

EE and BT are re-opening their retail stores in England from the 15th June as part of a phased roll-out to help customers with personal, local support and the best possible customer experience.

After an enormous amount of hard work to prepare our stores for reopening, and as the Covid-19 lockdown eases, we’re introducing a range of measures to help ensure the safety of our customers and colleagues. We’ve gone over and above Government guidelines to ensure every store has its own tailored set of social distancing standards and introduced safety measures such as screens between customers and our retail team, with optional face covering and visors for colleagues.

A limited number of people will be permitted in stores at any one time in order to help enforce social distancing. EE’s GreetMe virtual queueing system will enable customers to book in-store or callback appointments. Customers will be given an allotted time, or alerted via SMS when a retail advisor is ready to help them.

We want every single one of our people and customers to feel safe when they return to work – and ready to play their part in rebooting the high street.

We’re reopening our stores only where it is safe to do so, starting with two of our stores in Northern Ireland on 8 th June.

Lee Frankham, Retail Director at EE and BT, said: “At this difficult time for everyone, there is no substitute for personal, local service. We’re ready to re-open our stores to help our customers with the connections and help they need.

“Keeping our customers and our people safe is our number one priority, and we’ve been working tirelessly to introduce measures so everyone can be confident to visit our stores knowing that we can look after them and each other. We’re thankful to our amazing retail colleagues who have been helping customers online during the past month, and we are looking forward to welcoming customers back to our stores.”

Many of EE’s retail colleagues have been working at home throughout the past 10 weeks, assisting their contact centre colleagues over the phone and online in managing customers’ general enquiries, technical support and advice for those who need it.

With more than 90 EE and BT retail stores getting ready to re-open their doors to customers from 15th June, a dedicated training module will be completed by teams to reinforce health and safety, retail social distancing and hygiene measures.

These new measures include, but are not limited to:

An EE colleague welcoming customers safely and appointing a retail advisor to help them

GreetMe virtual queueing system: if a customer visits when the store is at capacity, they will receive a message when the shop is ready to welcome them back, or be given an allotted time to return

We’re also introducing callback appointments

A limited number of people in stores and floor markings in order to help safely observe social distancing

Screens in key areas of the store between customers and retail colleagues

Optional face covering and visors for our people

Hand sanitiser stations and increased cleaning. We’ll thoroughly clean any device a colleague or customer needs to touch before and after handling, and we’ll be regularly cleaning our stores, including displays

All stores will now move to contactless payments only and only use chip and pin where necessary, no cash will be exchanged on the premises

The stores will have virtual demos available, complete with images, specifications, and comparison tool, showing customers our full range of products while observing social distancing guidelines. 3D Views enables customers to see a device in full, rotating as needed, with help guides detailing step-by-step instructions.

Rachel Corrales, store manager, said: “I honestly can’t wait to get back to the shop floor. I’ve really missed the daily personal interaction with my customers, and of course my team. But we’ve all been in this together, keeping each other motivated.

“We know it’s going to be different for us all going back to our store, but we’ve found new ways to demo products to customers through our Product Finder tool and our new virtual queuing system GreetMe will enable us to safely manage customer visits to stores. For example, if we’re at a capacity in store we’ll be able to take a customer’s details and send them a text when it’s time for them to come back.”

The safety of our colleagues and customers remains our number one. We’ll be listening to retail staff and customers to be able to adapt to changes, whilst continuing to provide the best service and keeping our colleagues as safe as possible.

For more information, please contact:

0207 792 7468

About EE

EE runs the UK’s biggest and fastest mobile network, offering superfast connections in more places than any other operator. EE brought the first 4G network to the UK in October 2012 with it continuing to be the UK’s biggest 4G network, and launched the UK’s first 5G network in May 2019.

EE has received extensive independent recognition, including being named the UK’s best network every year since 2015 for all the following awards: The Mobile Choice Awards, The Mobile News Awards, The Mobile Industry Awards and by RootMetrics®.

As well as offering mobile services to consumers and small and medium businesses, EE also provides home and business broadband using both 4G and fixed line connections.

EE is committed to being number one for service in the industry. Its retail presence exceeds more than 600 shops across the UK. EE remains the only mobile provider to answer 100% of customer calls in the UK and Ireland, and was recognised as the UK’s Best Large Contact Centre by the UK Customer Experience Awards 2018 and Welsh Contact Centre Awards 2019. EE was awarded The Sunday Times’ Best 100 Companies to Work for in 2018 and 2019, as well as being named Best Employer 2018 by the European Contact Centre & Customer Service awards.

EE is part of BT’s Consumer business unit which provides products and services to all of BT’s consumer customers in the UK.

UK News | Published: Jun 10, 2020

The chain said its entire 309-strong estate in England will reopen across shopping centres, high streets and retail parks from Monday.

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Retailer JD Sports has confirmed all its stores across England will reopen from June 15, as lockdown restrictions ease further.

The chain said its entire 309-strong estate in England will reopen to customers across shopping centres, high streets and retail parks, after the Government gave the go-ahead for non-essential retail to restart.

JD Sports will also open its high street and open air stores in Northern Ireland from June 12, but shopping centres there will remain closed.

The group is planning to reopen across Scotland and Wales when lockdown restrictions are eased.

Retailers across the sector are preparing to reopen on Monday, with the likes of Marks & Spencer and a slimmed-down Debenhams among those once again opening their doors to customers.

But shoppers will see closed changing rooms, restrictions on touching goods and one-way systems in place, as part of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

JD Sports said it will be allowing a limited number of shoppers in stores, providing hand sanitising stations, protective screens at tills, separating returned stock for 72 hours to reduce transmission, and closing changing rooms, in line with Government guidance.

It has also given staff social distance training ahead of reopening, while each store will have a “host” near the entrance to manage access and answer customer questions on safety measures.

Peter Cowgill, executive chairman at JD Sports, said: “Following 12 weeks of lockdown, we recognise the continued importance of maintaining social distancing and a safe environment in which to work and shop, and therefore have taken all necessary steps and precautions to give our staff and customers the confidence that they can safely return to our stores.”

An eclectic boutique lined with New York-cool fashion finds and artisanal homewares is putting a bucolic Cotswolds village on the style map

Where to find

The Square, Stow-on-the-Wold GL54 1AB (01451-831 404; cutterbrooks.com).

One look at the historic 17th-century building in bucolic Stow-on-the-Wold and Amanda Cutter Brooks was sold. “It seemed like a complete money pit, but I loved it,” says the former fashion director of Barneys New York, who lives with her artist husband and two children on nearby Fairgreen Farm. “It took a year to bring the space back to its original form.” The self-described American Anglophile has paired the weathered-oak beams with soft-pink walls to lend it a “feminine feel, but not too girly”.

Since May last year, Cutter Brooks’ eponymous eclectic boutique has enticed a mix of locals, weekenders from Soho Farmhouse and tourists from further afield – primarily Asians and Americans – with its curated clothing and housewares. “I embrace the English countryside style and craftsmanship,” says Cutter Brooks, highlighting the delicate fabric flowers (£100-£350) made exclusively for the shop by her neighbour Silka Rittson-Thomas and the traditional basketry (£100-£300) by Jenny Crisp, who has been growing and weaving her own willow in Herefordshire for over 30 years. “But I also incorporate things from my travels,” she adds, noting a selection of decorative items that includes Indian hand-block-printed napkins (£40 for six) and sisal placemats (£25 each), made by a group of women in Swaziland, as well as découpage trays (£124) by fellow American John Derian – “an old friend whose work somehow feels very English, and is a huge seller for us”.

There’s a strong New York component to Cutter Brooks’ fashion buys, too, with the flowing designs by Ulla Johnson (tiered Claribel dress, £415) and LoveShackFancy (embroidered cotton dress, £520) offset by Khaite’s more tailored pieces (tweedy walking shorts, £620) – and all bought in very limited quantities. “My customers appreciate I stock things you won’t find easily elsewhere,” says Cutter Brooks, whose closer-to-home buys range from The Tweed Project – “two Irish girls from Galway I discovered on Instagram” creating summery linen petticoat dresses (£380) and cropped, fringed Aran sweaters (£650) – to Florentine nightwear specialist Loretta Caponi, whose cotton voile “granny nighties” (£350) in pastel shades are “old-school, smocked and very Shakespeare in Love”. Cheerful accessories run from chic canvas tool bags (£495) by Paris label L/Uniform – hand-stamped with monograms by Cutter Brooks – and hair ties (£60-£150) repurposed from Hermès, Liberty and Gucci scarves by Copenhagen’s Line Sander Johansen.

“At first, I think a lot of locals were sceptical about this project,” says Cutter Brooks, whose most precious pieces are the limited edition porcelain blackberry branch sculptures (£2,800-£7,900) by Ukraine-born artist Vladimir Kanevsky. “I’ve certainly made a few mistakes – selling resort fashion in December in the English countryside was pretty much a bust – but I think we’ve found our place now. When people visit and say, ‘It’s so warm and cosy here – and the coffee is great,’ I know I’m doing something right.”

LONDON (AP) — For many in England, it’s been a day of much-needed retail therapy.

Long lines stretched down streets in England on Monday as shops selling items considered as nonessential during the coronavirus pandemic, such as sneakers and toys, welcomed customers for the first time since the U.K. was put into lockdown in late March.

Starved of the retail experience for the best part of three months, the keenest of shoppers rushed to make up for lost time, to pick up a bargain, browse or just have a chat.

Most appeared to abide by the rules of the “new normal” to remain two meters (6-1/2 feet) apart as they awaited their turn to enter the stores, though pushing and shoving was evident in some places, like the NikeTown store on Oxford Street, London’s famous shopping district.

For Pamela Crystal, 46, it was a far more relaxing experience at the nearby upscale Selfridges department store.

“You don’t realise how much you miss physical shopping until you actually come into the shop. It’s great,” she said. “It’s nice to see people, talk to salespeople. It feels like we’re normal again.”

Monday’s reopening of shops only applies to England. Scotland and Wales are taking a more tentative approach to the easing of the coronavirus restrictions. Northern Ireland’s stores reopened last week. England also saw zoos, safari parks and drive-in cinemas reopen on Monday.

The new shopping experience is anything but normal, though.

Shops are limiting numbers and are providing hand sanitizers as well as creating one-way traffic systems inside. Plastic screens protect workers from shoppers at payment counters and some shops won’t accept cash. At the Apple store on Regent Street in central London, staff checked customers’ temperatures and insisted upon face coverings.

Roger Shakles, managing director of Sewcraft, a small haberdashery shop in the central England town of Swindon, said people have to sanitize their hands before entering.

“We’re a very tactile shop, people have to feel and touch to get an idea of what they’re buying,” he said.

Not all shops in England are reopening. Many say the social distancing guidelines are just too difficult and are urging the British government to reduce the 2-meter requirement.

Critics have also accused the government of being too hasty given still-high levels of daily coronavirus infections. Though the country’s daily virus-related death rates have fallen to below those seen before the lockdown, there are worries of a second spike. The U.K., as a whole, has recorded 41,736 coronavirus-related deaths, the third highest in the world behind the United States and Brazil.

Customers are being encouraged to “be sensible” as the government seeks to reopen the economy “gradually and carefully.” Figures last week showed that the U.K. economy, which depends heavily on retail, shrank by 20% in April alone.

On Oxford Street, businesses have installed scores of signs to ensure social distancing. Some sidewalks have been widened and extra bike stations were put up to encourage shoppers to travel there without using the city’s Underground subway.

With virtually no tourists in town, London’s entire West End shopping and theater district is expected to see just 10% to 15% of its normal customers this week. International tourists now face a 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Britain.

Linda Pilkington, who owns a high-end perfume boutique off London’s designer and jewellery hub of Bond Street, says the shopping experience will inevitably be dulled because restaurants, theaters and other entertainment facilities remain closed.

“People like the social side of shopping. When you hit Bond Street and all the grand shops, it’s an exciting event,” she said. “All those people coming to London for a show, making a weekend of it, that won’t be there. It’s just not going to be the same.”

Pilkington’s tiny shop, Ormonde Jayne, will only let one customer in at a time. Shoppers are encouraged to sanitize their hands and the whole store needs to be wiped down every time a shopper leaves.

John Lewis, a popular British department store with outlets around the country, is trying to be optimistic.

“I’m hopeful that, while the overall atmosphere will feel a bit different to them, what they’ll actually find is a kind of pleasant surprise that it’s calm, it’s pleasant, it’s well ordered,” said Andrew Murphy, director of operations. “But it’s also still got the real advantage of the physical shopping experience and the things that you can’t do online.”

Analysts say the pandemic has accelerated a shift to online shopping, not least because many businesses need to cut rental costs to survive.

To lure wary shoppers back, Selfridges lined up street performers to entertain anyone queuing, while DJs will play music inside to liven things up. Selfridges said the last time it had to close its doors was in 1941 when it was hit by a bomb during World War II.

“We’ve nearly doubled our sales online, but clearly three months’ closure is going to have an impact on our business,” said Meave Wall, store director at Selfridges. “Today’s the first day of what’s going to be quite a long journey back for us but based on the customers we’ve seen queueing this morning we’re definitely optimistic of a return to the stores.”