Coronavirus: Which shops can still open in lockdown or offer click and collect?

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Non-essential shops are currently closed as part of a national lockdown to combat coronavirus.

They are currently allowed to open for click and collect, although from Saturday, Scotland will follow Northern Ireland in restricting this service to essential retailers.

John Lewis has also said it will suspend its click and collect service UK-wide after a "change in tone" from the government about safety measures.

Which retailers are allowed to open?

Any retailer selling "essential" goods and services may stay open to the public as long as they follow coronavirus guidelines and make their premises Covid-secure.

In England, those on the list include:

  • food shops, supermarkets, garden centres, hardware stores, building merchants and off-licences
  • petrol stations, car repair and MOT services, bicycle shops, and taxi and vehicle hire businesses
  • banks, building societies, post offices, loan providers and money transfer businesses
  • medical services such as dentists, opticians and pharmacies
  • vets and pet shops
  • agricultural supply shops

Other High Street businesses staying open include storage facilities, funeral directors, launderettes, dry cleaners and car parks.

Public toilets and motorway service stations are also on the list.

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image captionPeople are allowed to leave home to do essential shopping

Which shops are shut?

All "non-essential" retail outlets must close but in England and Wales they can still offer click-and-collect services - where goods are pre-ordered and collected off the premises - as well as online delivery.

These include:

  • clothing shops
  • homeware and furniture stores
  • electronic goods and mobile phone shops
  • vehicle showrooms (other than for rental)
  • betting shops
  • tailors
  • tobacco and vape shops
  • market stalls selling non-essential goods

What about hospitality, beauty and leisure?

Hospitality businesses such as cafes, restaurants and pubs must shut unless they are providing food for takeaway before 22:00, click and collect, drive-through or delivery. Alcohol cannot be ordered for click and collect.

Customers aren't allowed to eat and drink outside the premises, although there are some exceptions, such as airports.

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image captionHairdressers must close during lockdown

Hair, beauty, tanning and nail salons are also closed - along with tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, and body and skin piercing services. These services cannot take place in other peoples' homes either.

In addition, hotels, hostels and guest houses are shut to most guests. They can open to business travellers and those who need accommodation to self-isolate or attend medical appointments or a funeral.

Leisure and entertainment venues are also shut, from gyms and swimming pools to theatres, cinemas and museums.

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image captionGarden centres must remain closed in Wales

What are the rules on shops in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

There are slightly different coronavirus restrictions for each UK nation.

In Scotland from Saturday 16 January, only shops selling essential items - such as clothing, footwear, baby equipment, homeware and books - will be allowed to offer click and collect. Collections must be outdoors, with appointments staggered to avoid queuing.

Food takeaways must be collected outside or through a hatch rather than indoors, and alcohol cannot be consumed outdoors.

In Northern Ireland, non-essential shops are not allowed to offer click and collect.

In Wales, garden centres, homeware stores and markets have to shut along with shopping centres and arcades. Essential retailers such as supermarkets have also had to cordon off aisles selling non-essential goods such as clothes and toys.

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