Retailers including Zara, Schuh, Superdry and River Island are preparing to open in Exeter’s Princesshay shopping centre when it unlocks on June 15 – but with social distancing rules strictly enforced around the mall.
So-called “non-essential” stores are allowed to start trading again on that date and malls around the country are preparing to welcome shoppers safely.
At Princesshay, the UK’s first pedestrianised shopping area when it opened in the 1950s, “hygiene measures” are being brought in, as are signs reminding about social distancing and queuing.
In addition to the stores mentioned above, food shops and restaurants such as Chandos Deli, Nandos and Wagamama are opening and offering take-away services only, in line with Government advice.
Princesshay’s “essential” stores - including Nationwide, TSB and Holland and Barrett - have remained fully open to the public during the coronavirus lockdown and have already introduced measures to provide social distancing and enhanced hygiene standards.
It is expected that additional stores in the precinct will be opening in the next few weeks. Princesshay – which is owned by TIAA Henderson Real Estate, the Crown Estate and Devon County Council – contains 65 businesses.
Princesshay is updating its website with store opening status and useful information for visitors. Shoppers are urged to check the centre website www.princesshay.co.uk from June 15 before travelling to the complex.
Michelle Menezes, Princesshay centre manager, said: “The Princesshay management team has taken every precaution to ensure our staff and visitors are safe when we begin to welcome them back on June 15.
“We have introduced additional cleaning and hygiene measures on site and have installed clear social distancing markers and queuing zones.
“We ask visitors to comply with social distancing rules in and around the centre and observe and follow individual store guidelines when inside the shops. We are looking forward to seeing visitors again soon.”
She added: “To enable socially-distanced travel, we continue to offer ample parking and are also encouraging people to walk and cycle, using our bike stands on site.”
In Plymouth, the British Land-owned Drake Circus Shopping Centre is fully unlocking on June 15 too, with stringent social distancing measures in place, even if not all the shops inside are trading.
Bosses at the mall are putting measures in place including queues and a “traffic light” system for shops. Shoppers are being warned to be patient as social distancing will be strictly enforced and that means they may have to wait in line as the number of people inside the building will be “limited”.
A “one-way” system around the mall will be introduced and some shops will only be allowing a certain number of people in at any one time.
Much of the shopping complex closed on March 23 when the country was ordered to go into lockdown. Only the “essential” stores, selling food and medicines, were allowed to stay open. These included Boots, Holland and Barrett and M&S.
