Life After Lockdown

15th April 2021

On Monday 12th April, the majority of non-essential shops, as well as hairdressers, gyms and outdoor hospitality, reopened in England. This follows the easement of lockdown restrictions that began on the 29th March, which saw an end of the nation’s stay-at-home rule and a return to the rule of six.

We are pleased to announce that The Pantiles will reopen in full next Monday in line with government guidelines. Social distancing measures are set to persist until 21th June, therefore it is important that we remain vigilant by isolating if unwell, maintaining immaculate hygiene and respecting the space of others.

What has changed?

The second stage of England’s lockdown relaxation has enabled many businesses to reopen for the first time in three months. This includes non-essential shops, hairdressers, nail salons and gyms, while bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants are allowed to serve customers outdoors – but groups are limited to two households or by the rule of six. 

Self-contained lodging, such as campsites and holiday rentals, are also allowed to accept visitors. Independent or household visits to libraries, community centres, zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas are also allowed.

“It’s a cautious but, we hope, irreversible path, and the effectiveness of the vaccine gives me increased confidence that we are going to be able to walk down that road as set out in the roadmap and we can see that the vaccines are making people safe and saving lives.”

– Matt Hancock, Health Secretary

What rules are the shops following?

In addition to the previously mentioned face mask and social distancing laws, shops and members of the public need to follow the Government’s ‘COVID-secure’ measures. These outline the precise precautions people must take to help keep infections under control when stores reopen. 

Under these rules, fitting rooms remain closed, large families will be restricted and customers will be urged to pay using a cashless method where possible. Similar to the measures seen in supermarkets during the crisis, one-way systems and barriers will also be put in place enabling customers to shop whilst retaining a safe distance from one another. 

Hygiene is of paramount importance in preventing the spread of the virus, therefore upon arrival, shoppers will be asked to sanitise their hands and will be told to only handle products they wish to purchase. Posters, signage and visual aids will be placed on shop windows and doors to clearly outline the current rules and steps.

The Pantiles is Back

For the past year, our priority has been the safety of everyone who visits and works at The Pantiles – nothing is more important to us. Our range of safety measures enable all to shop smart and shop safe. 

As the majority of our shops reopen, we’d like to say thanks to everyone who has kept essential stores and our food takeaway services open, along with keeping the centre clean while we’ve been in lockdown. Our team will continue to work hard to make sure the centre is hygienic and safe.

Please ensure you follow all guidelines when you visit and we will communicate updates or changes to information to our online community via our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.