Non-Essential Shops Are Open In England and Wales – But What About The Rest Of The UK?

Non-essential shops in England are officially open.

This marks a pivotal moment on the UK's four-stage 'road to freedom' of lockdown restrictions being eased; personal care services can now reopen (meaning, you can get a haircut), outdoor hospitality can resume, and indoor leisure centres - including swimming pools and gyms - can open their doors again.

This is very welcome news for the ailing retail sector. With so many businesses facing closure – news that Topshop's stores would all have to close brought further distress for the flailing high street – it's understandable that many have been anxious to open their doors once again.

Another date on the horizon to look forward to: June 21, the earliest that life will return to 'normal'. We might have a summer after all...

When can non-essential shops reopen again in England?

They're open! All non-essential shops are now open, with safety restrictions in place. For you ultimate guide to shopping post-lockdown, click here for all of the rules you'll need to follow if you visit the shops.

Pubs and restaurants with outside space are also allowed to open, along with gyms, beauty salons, hairdressers and leisure centres. Members of the same household are also permitted to stay in self-contained accommodation.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: 'We think that these changes are fully justified by the data which show we are meeting our four tests for easing the lockdown.' If things continue to go to plan, this means that restaurants and pubs will be permitted to open their indoor areas from May 17.

When can non-essential shops reopen again in Scotland?

Non-essential shops are reopening as of April 26. Some non-essential shops, however, such as hairdressers and garden centres have been open since April 5. Non-essential click-and-collect services were also allowed to resume earlier this month.

When can non-essential shops reopen again in Wales?

All non-essential shops in Wales are open, the same as in England. Hairdressers and barbers in Wales are already open (they were permitted to do so from March 15) and garden centres could open as of March 22.

The Welsh government is also replacing lockdown rules with 'stay local', with First Minister Mark Drakeford explaining that 'The rule of thumb is that you should think of local as a five-mile radius from where you live but if you live in a valleys community or a rural area you can exercise your judgement and go a little bit further.'

Since March 13, up to four adults from two households can meet up in a private garden in Wales.

When can non-essential shops reopen again in Northern Ireland?

Non-essential retailers who operate outdoors were able to open on April 12, meaning that businesses including garden centres, nurseries, new and used car sales and car washes are all open again, as well as click-and-collect services that are deemed non-essential. Northern Ireland's stay-at-home order has also been lifted, replaced with guidance to 'stay local' instead.

All other non-essential retail is now due to open on April 30, while hairdressers and other close-contact services will be opening from April 23.

When will charity shops open again?

As charity shops are classed as a non-essential business, they will only be allowed to open in line with restrictions. This means that in England and Wales, charity shops are open but in Scotland and Northern Ireland, they remain closed. While charity shops in the UK are losing a great deal of money as they remain shut, there is some good news on the horizon. The Charity Retail Association toldThe Observer that it is expecting to see a boom in business when charity shops are able to reopen again.

Some charity shops, including Cancer Research, Oxfam, British Red Cross and the British Heart Foundation have online shops, so it is still possible to support these organisations. Do check each individual charity's website, however, for rules and regulations surrounding donations.

A survey conducted by Scope reveals the public's eagerness to return to charity shop. It reports that 58% of the British public think charity shops will play a vital role in high streets post lockdown, while one in five are more likely to visit a charity shop compared to before the pandemic.

When can hairdressers reopen?

Hairdressers and beauty salons in England are open. For everything you need to know about when hairdressers reopening, click here.

What are non-essential shops?

Non-essential shops include the following: clothes shops, homeware stores, betting shops, auction houses, technology shops, car showrooms, market stalls.

Many of these shops are offering and click and collect service while possible, meaning you can still purchase these goods online if the stores are still closed where you live.

What are essential shops?

Essential shops include supermarkets, pharmacies, off-licenses, garden centres, dry cleaners, banks, post offices, launderettes, pet shops, funeral directors and any market stall selling essential goods (i.e food).

Are florists open in lockdown?

While garden centres remain open, many florists have had to close their physical stores under lockdown restrictions. But many are offering delivery services and/or click and collect, meaning you can still order flowers online either for yourself or a loved one. And, of course, florists in England and Wales are now open.