Indoor pubs, cinemas and saunas are just some of the businesses that will finally be able to welcome customers back next week.
These places should be allowed to reopen from May 17 if the roadmap out of lockdown stays on schedule.
This means coronavirus cases need to remain under control and the vaccine programme must stay on schedule.
If all goes to plan, other businesses that will be given the green light to open their doors include indoor restaurants, theatres and bingo halls.
It comes after non-essential shops, hairdressers, salons and gyms reopened on April 12.
Pubs and restaurants with outdoor spaces were also allowed to welcome customers back from this date - but only for al fresco dining.
Which place are you looking forward to visiting the most? Let us know in the comments.
Which businesses will reopen on May 17?
As well as the below businesses reopening, it's expected that the government will also allow people to meet in a group of six or two households indoors.
If you are outside, you can meet up with people in a group of no more than 30.
There will also be no limit on the number of people allowed to attend funerals from May 17, the government announced today.
The businesses that can reopen from May 17 if the roadmap stays on schedule includes:
Pubs (indoor dining)
Restaurants (indoor dining)
Cinemas
Theatres
Concert halls
Amusement arcades
Bingo halls
Casinos
Bowling alleys
Snooker and pool halls
Saunas and steam rooms
Conference centres and exhibition halls (subject to the capacity limits)
Gym classes will also be allowed again from this date - until now, fitness buffs have only been able to go to gyms for solo exercise.
Indoor attractions will also be allowed to reopen at the following places:
Museums and galleries
Adventure playgrounds and activities
Skating rinks
Games and recreation venues
Play areas
Model villages
Trampolining parks
Water and aqua parks
Theme parks and film studios
Zoos, safari parks, aquariums and other animal attractions
Botanical gardens, greenhouses and biomes
Sculpture parks
Landmarks including observation wheels or viewing platforms
Stately or historic homes, castles, or other heritage sites
What businesses can’t reopen yet?
All remaining businesses will have to wait until at least June 21 before they can reopen as part of the final stage of the roadmap.
This includes:
- Nightclubs
- Adult entertainment venues
- Large events
Weddings should be allowed without restrictions on numbers from June 21 - again, if the roadmap stays on schedule.
The Times also reports how social distancing rules could be scrapped entirely in pubs, cinemas and more from this date.
It means indoor venues will be able to operate at full capacity for the first time in 15 months.
The government has yet to officially confirm if this will be the case, with full details not expected to be published until nearer the time.
