Which shops and businesses are NOT reopening including pubs, theatres and gyms
PLANS to lift lockdown restrictions have been revealed by the government today but while some have been told to return to work other businesses must remain closed.
Here's what you need to know.
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The businesses that must stay closed
Non-essential retailers and those in the hospitality industry won't be allowed to reopen until at least July 4, the government has said.
And even then, they'll only reopen based on further detailed scientific advice, as well as being subjected to five new tests and strict social distancing measures.
Businesses that must remain closed
WHILE the government is encouraging some to return to work, it says the following businesses and venues are required by law to stay closed to the public:
- Restaurants and cafes, other than for takeaway
- Pubs, cinemas, theatres and nightclubs
- Clothing and electronics stores; hair, beauty and nail salons; and outdoor and indoor markets not selling food
- Libraries, community centres, and youth centres
- Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, gyms, arcades and soft play facilities - although outdoor sports facilities, such as tennis and basketball courts, golf courses and bowling greens, will be allowed to reopen from May 13
- Some communal places within parks, such as playgrounds and outdoor gyms
- Places of worship (except for funerals)
- Hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks, and boarding houses for commercial/leisure use, excluding use by those who live in them permanently, those who are unable to return home and critical workers where they need to for work
Food retailers, food markets, and hardware stores can remain open, while garden centres and certain other retailers can reopen from May 13.
This means restaurants and cafes can still only serve takeaways, while pubs, cinemas, theatres and nightclubs have to stay closed.
Clothing and electronics stores are not allowed to reopen, and the same applies to hair, beauty and nail salons, as well as to indoor and outdoor markets that don't sell food.
Indoor leisure facilities, such as bowling alleys, gyms, arcades and soft play centres must remain closed, although outdoor facilities, excluding playgrounds and outdoor gyms, can reopen from May 13.
Libraries, community centres, youth centres and places of worship must stay shut, except for funerals.
And hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks, and boarding houses for commercial or leisure use must also stay closed.
The only exceptions are for those who live in them permanently, those who are unable to return home, and critical workers where they need to use them for work.
The businesses that can open
At the other end of the scale, food retailers, food markets, and hardware stores can remain open, the government has confirmed.
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While garden centres and outdoor sports facilities, such as tennis and basketball courts, golf courses and bowling greens, will be allowed to reopen from May 13.
Those who work in food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution, scientific research in laboratories and as nannies and childminders have also been encouraged to return to work from this week.
But employers will have to keep workers apart and install more bike facilities when staff go back to offices, the new guidance suggests.