Coronavirus lockdown: Which shops, cafes, restaurants, gyms, garden centres have started re-opening?

Boris Johnson has announced the first "careful steps to modify" coronavirus lockdown measures in England, confirming that a phased reopening of non-essential shops could begin within the next few weeks.

When lockdown was imposed on March 23, restaurants, gyms and garden centres shut their doors to customers, with only essential retailers being allowed to remain open.

But the prime minister has announced non-essential shops may be allowed to re-open as soon as June 1.

Some retailers and gyms had refused to open their doors until the government eases the lockdown, however some firms have already began to return to business.

DIY chain Homebase has reopened all of its stores, while McDonalds is reopening 15 restaurants from May 13 for delivery only.

Here are the retailers opening their doors to the public:

  • Retailers

John Lewis

John Lewis said they are "working hard on a blueprint" but will only put it into action once the government has specified the dates and conditions it is happy for retailers to begin re-opening. Once this happens, JL shops will reopen over a period of three to six weeks.

Timpson

Shoe repair firm Timpson will re-open 40 outlets within supermarkets, but High Street shops will remain closed.

Homebase

Homebase began trialling the opening of 20 stores from Saturday 25 April, and following a successful trial they have now fully re-opened all stores in the UK.

Social distancing measures are now in place to ensure shopping is safe.

Homebase has re-opened 70 stores. Credit: PA

B&Q

DIY and home improvement chain, B&Q, has reopened all of its stores, with the exception of stores in the ROI and Guernsey.

All stores are open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, but opening times on Sundays vary.

The retailer will limit the number of customers in store at any one time, and will have a designated queuing area outside, with markers every two metres so customers adhere to social distancing measures.

There will also be two metre markers inside stores and perspex screens have been installed at checkouts.

To find out where your nearest store is and opening times, click here.

Wickes

Wickes has launched a trial to re-open six stores with new social distancing measures in place.

It said stores in Pudsey, Cheltenham, Preston, Sevenoaks, Cricklewood and Hailsham will re-open.

The retailer said the trial stores will operate shorter opening hours, to find out when the stores will be open, click here.

Next

Next said it has plans in place to re-open stores when the lockdown is lifted, but would be prioritising out-of-town outlets initially where it is easier to operate in a “socially distanced world”.

The group said: “The fall-off in sales to date has been faster and steeper than anticipated in our March stress test and we are now modelling lower sales for both the first and second half of the year.”

It added: “We believe that the effects of the coronavirus will be felt for longer than we first anticipated.

“The economic consequences and continued social distancing will mean that both retail sales and online sales will be disrupted even after full lockdown measures have been lifted.”

  • Restaurants and cafes

Costa

Costa has re-opened two Drive-Thru lanes (in Manchester and Mansfield) and two stores (in Manchester and Bristol) from Friday 24 April - all serving a limited menu.

The Drive-Thru lanes are near large hospitals and the two stores will be delivery only, so customers can deliver coffee to their homes via Uber Eats.

Pret

Pret has re-opened 101 stores across the UK for takeaway and delivery.

To find out which shops are open, click here.

Pret has only re-opened stores in hospitals. Credit: PA

Greggs

Greggs had initially said it planned to reopen a small number of stores for takeaway and delivery next week after shutting all its sites due to the pandemic.

The boss of the bakery chain informed staff of plans to open 20 stores in the Newcastle area from Monday May 4 as part of a “controlled trial”.

But the firm has since pulled back on the plan over fears it could attract crowds and is instead running the trial “behind closed doors” due to fears customers will flock to its stores in large numbers.

Roger Whiteside, chief executive of the business, had said he hopes to open around 700 stores, including 150 franchise shops, with new operational measures in place from June 8.

However Mr Whiteside said it will only be possible to re-open this many shops once the government has taken a first step in relaxing the lockdown.

Nando's

Nando's has announced it will be re-opening six restaurants in the UK in London and Manchester for delivery only.

Customers will need to order from Nando's via Deliveroo, as dining areas remain closed and its click and collect service is still unavailable.

The chicken chain has reopened restaurants in London (Clink St, Camberwell, Canary Jubilee, Gloucester Road) and Manchester (Fallowfield, Printworks).

A McDonald's restaurant which remains closed at the Strensham Services on the M5 motorway in Worcestershire. Credit: PA

McDonald's

McDonald's is reopening a number of its UK restaurants for delivery only via Uber Eats from 11am on 13 May.

The fast food chain shut all restaurants last month in the wake of the pandemic.

The company spent a week testing its operations behind closed doors in preparation with 15 restaurants now set to reopen with "much smaller teams" and a limited menu.

The following restaurants will re-open on May 13:

  • Chelmsford Riverside

  • Chelmsford Westway

  • Ipswich Cardinal Park

  • Boreham Interchange

  • Luton Leagrave

  • Watford Hertfordshire Arms

  • Chaul End Lane, Luton

  • Beechings Way, Gillingham

  • Sittingbourne Retail Park

  • Gillingham Bowaters

  • Tooting

  • Dalston

  • Welling

  • Harrow

  • Luton George Streetv

Paul Pomroy, the chain's boss for the UK and Ireland, said the tests had proved "successful", allowing the company to "slowly" start to serve customers again.

The company has introduced a host of new measures including deep cleaning of restaurants prior to reopening, perspex screens and floor markings to help maintain social distancing.

Staff will also receive protective equipment, such as non-medical grade face masks, and have their temperatures taken with "contactless thermometers" before shifts.

McDonalds shut all its restaurants last month. Credit: PA

Burger King

Burger King has re-opened a further eight restaurants in Aberdeen, Dundee, Merton in south London, Reading, Southampton, and Hillington and Springfield Quay - both in Glasgow.

Four other branches opened earlier this month, Bath Road and Eastgate in Bristol, Coventry and Swindon.

Customers can order a limited menu through Just Eat and Deliveroo and the restaurants will be open from 12-11pm.

The burger chain has also re-opened a Drive-Thru Burger King in Havant, Hampshire, as part of a trial.

Burger King hopes to re-open more Drive-Thru restaurants in the coming weeks, and aims to have at least one restaurant open in every city by 31 May.

Burger King said one in 10 of its stores could close due to the impact of coronavirus. Credit: PA

KFC

KFC has re-opened a total of 21 restaurants across the country, including four in London.

The fried chicken chain plans to open an additional 80 restaurants by 4 May, bringing the total to 100.

"We are doing this responsibly and carefully, with stringent processes and hygiene measures put in place," a spokesperson said.

"All our restaurants will continue serving a limited menu to help the smaller kitchen teams maintain social distancing."

Customers can order from KFC via Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats - you can't order directly from the KFC website, or in-person at these restaurants.

The KFC branches that have re-opened their doors are:

  • Heaton Chapel

  • Tamworth

  • New Oscott

  • Manchester Hulme

  • Manchester Deansgate

  • Portsmouth

  • Aldershot

  • Ipswich – Cardinal Park

  • Glasgow – Pollockshaw Road

  • Glasgow – Great Western Retail Park

  • Enfield – Coliseum Retail Park

  • Bury - Moorgate Retail Park

  • Bently Bridge - Bentley Bridge Pleasure Park

  • Great Bridge - Great Bridge Retail Park

  • Romford Gallows - Colchester Road

  • Tyburn - Kingsbury Road

  • Norwich - Mile Cross Lane

  • Brighton - Western Road

  • Putney - High Street

  • Mornington Crescent

  • Hammersmith - Kings Street

Leon

Fast food restaurant chain Leon has reopened 12 branches and four sites dedicated to feeding critical care teams through the company's FeedNHS project.

Leon said they have identified the locations of other restaurants which will be reopened, but "haven't pushed the button yet."

The 12 restaurants open to the public and key workers are:

  • Brighton

  • Brunswick

  • Cheapside

  • Hammersmith

  • Jubilee

  • Horseferry

  • South Kensington

  • Southwark

  • Spitalfields

  • Notting Hill

  • Wimbledon

  • Tottenham Court Road

The four sites dedicated to feeding critical care teams are:

  • Pancras Square

  • High street Kensington

  • Tottenham Court Walk

  • Eastcastle St

Credit: PA

  • Gyms

Barry's Bootcamp

Fitness studio Barry's Bootcamp said they are "unsure when we will be reopening but will continue to closely follow the advice of the government and local authorities" but have virtual workouts for members.

PureGym

The chain of health clubs is working out how gyms can be laid out to allow for social distancing and capping member numbers, the CEO of PureGym, Humphrey Cobbold, told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme.

Mr Cobbold said the chain was working to upgrade the hygiene and sanitisation regime to "provide a safe environment for the future."

But the CEO stressed gyms will only be re-opened when permitted by the government.

"The right approach is a considered and careful opening, we will probably, when permitted by government, start by opening half a dozen sites and then expand from there when we're confident that we have a model that's safe and secure for members for the future," Mr Cobbold said.

Virgin Active

Virgin Active said they will inform their customers when they will re-open clubs "once it is safe to do so based on government advice."

Trains

Boris Johnson advised people to avoid public transport "if at all possible because we must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will therefore be limited".

He said public transport operators, just as with workplaces, will be following the "Covid-secure" standards.

GWR said they are looking to increase services from mid-May, with further increases when the government starts to ease the lockdown.

The Rail Delivery Group is co-ordinating the rail industry's response to the pandemic, but they said changes to travel will be a decision for the government and rail companies, who are "looking at a range of possible future scenarios."

"Our priority continues to be the safety of our staff and passengers, and we will work closely with government and unions on how services can be returned to normal safely to support the economy and public health," the spokesperson added.

  • Garden Centres

In England and Wales, garden centres are able to reopen from 13 May, Boris Johnson confirmed during his speech unveiling England's roadmap to ease restrictions.