Which shops are back open today including Argos and Primark
NON-essential retailers have finally reopened to shoppers today, including Argos and Primark.
It comes nearly three months after they were forced to close their doors to stop the spread of coronavirus.
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Several retailers were able to continue trading online during lockdown, while others with no online presence, including Primark, saw sales fall to £0.
Up until recently, only pharmacies, food shops, garages, petrol stations, restaurants and cafes (with takeaway options only) and Post Offices were the only retail outlets allowed to open.
On June 1, some other retailers, such as outdoor markets, car showrooms and homeware stores, were given the green light to reopen.
And as of today, clothes, toys and betting shops are among those that can welcome back shoppers again, Business Secretary Alok Sharma said last week.
Below are the top retailers that have confirmed they'll reopen stores from today.
Which retailers have reopened stores today?
Apple
Apple has reopened all of its stores across England and Northern Ireland today.
Customers will have their temperature checked and be required to wear masks while visiting, although the chain will provide these if needed.
Arcadia Group - Burton, Evans, Miss Selfridges, Topman, Topshop, and Wallis
Arcadia has reopened all of its clothes shops including Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge.
Other brands in the Arcadia group including Burton, Evans and Wallis have also reopened.
There are fears that more than 100 of Arcadia's stores will close permanently - but details of closures have not yet been confirmed.
It follows the closure of 48 Arcadia stores as part of a rescue deal agreed last summer to save the struggling firm.
Unlike other retail chains, such as Next and John Lewis who are staggering openings, the group is planning to re-open all shops on the same day.
Argos
The retailer, which specialises in homewares, electronics and toys, has reopened 140 of its 700 standalone stores today.
But to begin with, the reopened shops will only carry out collections and returns.
Argos concessions within Sainsbury's supermarkets have remained open during lockdown.
Barnardo's
Barnardo’s was one of the first charity shops to announce plans to reopen 70 of its 700 UK shops in England from today.
You can find your nearest one by using
Currys PC World
The retailer has reopened 131 of its 308 branches across the UK today.
Currys PC World is initially reopening the stores as "Tech Help Hubs" for the first three days.
It means Brits with tech they already have can get free advice about the items, no matter where they bought them.
Customers will also be able to buy from stores if they need to, although only 42 of the branches will allow you to browse.
Debenhams
The department store chain has reopened its 90 stores in England today.
It's also already reopened four stores in Northern Ireland with the remaining shops across the UK to reopen at a later date.
The retailer, which collapsed into administration a few months ago, will permanently close 20 shops following lockdown.
EE/BT
EE and BT plans to reopen 90 of its retail stores from today as part of a phased roll-out.
GAME
GAME has reopened all stores across England and Northern Ireland today.
Its shops in Wales and Scotland remain closed until current government restrictions are lifted.
H&M
The fashion retailer has reopened its England stores today.
Hobbycraft
Hobbycraft has reopened all of its 90 stores across England and Northern Ireland.
House of Fraser
The retailer hasn't opened stores today, but plans to do so in the coming days.
House of Fraser said it'll reopen once the government has issued further guidance on larger stores reopening.
JD Sports
JD Sports has reopened 309 UK stores - but only a limited number of shoppers will be allowed in a store at one time.
How many are allowed in depends on the size of the store but at the Oxford Street shop it's limited to 139 customers.
John Lewis
The retailer has reopened two stores located in Poole, Dorset, and Kingston, South West London, with a further 11 to follow in three days.
The shops to open on Thursday, June 18 are Bluewater, Cambridge, Cheadle, Cheltenham, High Wycombe, Horsham, Ipswich, Norwich, Nottingham, Solihull and Welwyn.
These have been chosen because they are accessible by a car.
The shop has said the rest of its 50 shops will reopen in a phased approach, although it hasn't yet confirmed when this will happen.
Ladbrokes/Coral
All 2,445 Ladbrokes and Coral shops in England are reopening from today.
But the betting shop needs to wait for lockdown rules to change in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before stores can reopen there.
Lush
Lush has reopened 88 of its 89 stores in England.
The only one not opening is its High Wycombe store, which is currently recruiting for new management.
Stores in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will follow at a later date, but Lush can't confirm exactly when until there is updated guidance from the governments in those areas.
M&S
M&S has reopened its 25 outlet stores selling discounted clothes today.
The retailer had also already opened 49 cafes across the country for takeaway services.
M&S Food Halls have remained open since the beginning of lockdown.
Marie Curie
Similar to Barnardo's, charity Marie Curie has also reopened stores today.
Although you will still be able to make donations, it won't be in the same way as before.
The Charity Retail Association (CRA) says donations should not be left outside of shop doors or in doorways.
Donors will be directed to “donation’” points, such as empty shops or warehouses, instead.
This means that, like clothing returns, all donations can be quarantined for a minimum for 72 hours to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Next
The retailer has reopened almost 130 of its 500 stores.
It had already reopened 50 of its "home" department shops as permitted under government guidelines - and these are allowed to sell clothes too.
Primark has 189 shops in the UK.
The Sun had an exclusive first look inside a Primark store before it reopened its doors again.
Smyths Toys
The retailer has .
The date for re-opening its Scotland and Wales stores is subject to government guidelines and yet to be confirmed.
Shoppers can also click & collect to all UK stores.
Sports Direct
The sportswear and kit company has reopened 374 stores across the UK.
To celebrate, it's giving NHS workers 50 per cent off menswear, womenswear, kids clothes and sporting equipment in store today only.
To get the discount, you must show your NHS ID badge before purchasing your goods.
The Entertainer
The Entertainer has reopened 148 stores in England.
The toy retailer has social distancing measures in place, as well as a new fast-track service to help reduce the number of shoppers inside stores at one time.
The new “ready in ten” service will allow shoppers to place orders on their mobile phone, which can then be collected in ten minutes.
If shoppers already know what they want to buy, they’ll also be able to tell staff at the front of stores, who will then fast track them to payment areas.
The Entertainer has run an online-only service during the coronavirus lockdown.
The retailer initially offered delivery only for online orders, but then introduced a zero-contact click and collect service at 128 shops.
The Perfume Shop
The Perfume Shop has today reopened 68 stores across the UK.
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The Sun had an exclusive first look inside a Primark store before it reopens its doors again.
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For more behind the scenes stories on what retailers will look like after lockdown, check out how JD Sports is planning to reopen its 309 stores.
Coral, meanwhile, is planning to install sneeze screens inside its bookies.