B&Q to reopen 14 stores but some will temporarily stop offering click and collect
B&Q has reopened 14 of its stores to trial social distancing measures but most of these have temporarily stopped click and collect orders.
The retailer says that “having watched other essential retailers support social distancing measures” it has decided to reopen some shops.
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B&Q stores have been closed since the end of March, and customers have only been able to use click and collect services to buy goods.
But B&Q says it is now in a position to “follow best practice” on hygiene and social distancing measures in order to keep its staff and customers safe.
It reopened its Paisley and West Thurrock stores on Friday April 17, and 12 more stores reopened on Saturday April 18.
These are Culverhouse Cross in Cardiff, Chester, Brandon Road in Coventry, Fareham, Gillingham, Ipswich, Nursling, Plymouth, Stockport, Sutton in Ashfield, Watford, and Hull Road in York.
Which B&Q stores have reopened?
HERE are the 14 B&Q stores that have reopened:
Open as of April 17
- Paisley
- West Thurrock
Open as of April 18
- Culverhouse Cross in Cardiff
- Chester
- Brandon Road in Coventry
- Fareham
- Gillingham
- Ipswich
- Nursling
- Plymouth
- Stockport
- Sutton in Ashfield
- Watford
- Hull Road in York
Stores will open to customers from 8am until 5pm.
But click and collect is temporarily suspended at all of these reopened stores bar Paisley.
A B&Q spokesperson said: "As an essential retailer, we’ve watched other essential retailers support social distancing in their stores and are now in a position to follow best practice and re-open a small number of our stores as a trial, while keeping our colleagues and customers safe.
"We’re strictly limiting the number of customers in store at any one time, and so customers may need to queue before entering the store.
"To help remind everyone to respect each other’s personal space, we have two metre floor markers throughout these stores and also perspex screens at the checkouts."
Customers visiting the stores will only be able to buy products that are available to shop and takeaway on the day.
Services such as kitchen and bathroom design, paint mixing, timber cutting and key cutting are not available for the time being.
B&Q will also only be accepting card and contactless payments.
"We’re urging all customers to follow the government’s social distancing guidelines and to shop responsibly only for what is necessary," the spokesperson added.
Since the retailer closed its physical shops, customers have been forced to queue to get onto its website.
Others have been left raging after waiting up to three weeks for their home delivery and click and collect orders.
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