Poundland reopens 15 more branches – see the full list of stores
POUNDLAND has reopened 15 more stores bringing its total now open to 680.
The discount retailer has kept just under 700 of its 800 shops open for essential shopping during lockdown, although it temporarily closed around 100 branches in April.
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The majority of these closed stores had another outlet close by or were in a shopping centre which faced difficulties remaining open.
But 33 of these stores reopened from Monday May 18, with another 15 reopening on Wednesday May 21.
Branches that have reopened include Cardiff, Kettering, and Newcastle Eldon Square.
Reopened stores have implemented new social distancing measures including security guards at the door to limit the number of customers at any one time and floor markers to help customers keep two metres apart.
Which Poundland branches are reopening?
HERE'S which Poundland shops are reopening:
From May 21
- Barnsley
- Burnley
- Camborne
- Cardiff
- Derby
- Fareham
- Inverness Retail Park
- Kettering
- Kilburn
- Leicester Gallowtree Gate
- Lincoln
- Londonderry
- Newcastle Eldon Square
- Nottingham Wheeler Gate
- Poole High Street
From May 18
- Ayr Central Shopping Centre
- Basildon Eastgate Shopping Centre
- Belfast Castlecourt Shopping Centre, Northern Ireland
- Bootle Strand Shopping Centre
- Bradford Westfield Shopping Centre
- Chatham Pentagon Shopping Centre
- Colchester St Johns Shopping Centre
- Doncaster Wheatley Retail Park
- Eastleigh Swan Shopping Centre
- Enniskillen Erneside Shopping Centre, Northern Ireland
- Gateshead Metro Centre
- Great Yarmouth Regent Road
- Harrogate
- Harrow St Anns Road
- Ipswich 26 Carr Street
- Kendal
- Kingston upon Thames, Wheatfield Way
- Lakeside Thurrock
- Lowestoft Britten Shopping Centre
- Maidstone Chequers Shopping Centre
- Mansfield Four Seasons Shopping Centre
- Milton Keynes Centre
- Newport Gwent Kingsway Centre
- Newry Buttercrane Shopping Centre, Northern Ireland
- Newry Quays Shopping Centre, Northern Ireland
- Northampton Gold Street
- Norwich Castle Mall
- Romford Brewery Retail Park
- Shrewsbury
- Southend Royals Shopping Centre
- Sunderland High Street West
- Thurrock Lakeside
- Waltham Abbey Retail Park
- Wembley 492 High Road
Other measures in place include perspex screens to protect workers and customers and "rigorous hygiene routines", which include workers washing their hands every 20 minutes and surfaces being wiped down every hour.
These measures are part of the guidelines businesses must abide by if they wish to reopen.
Poundland’s retail director Austin Cooke said: “We’ve never been prouder of our role as a retailer at the heart of communities and high streets.
“While safety has to come first, we’re delighted to be able to begin reopening hibernating Poundland stores to fully serve those communities across the UK with the essentials they need.”
Poundland is the latest store to reopen its doors after a series of careful reopenings from other shops and restaurants.
McDonald's has reopened some branches for deliveries and drive-thrus after closing in March in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
While garden centre chain Dobbies has also reopened after the government gave garden centres the green light to welcome back customers.
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DIY chain Wickes has also reopened more stores after a successful trial with just six stores in April.
But several businesses are still not allowed to reopen - we've compiled a list of shops and businesses that are banned from opening to the public.
It looks like these firms, which includes hairdressers, may be allowed to open from July 4 at the very earliest if they pass a five stage test imposed by the government.