Dobbies Garden Centres will reopen dozens of stores across England this week following the government's updated lockdown guidance.
The company will join thousands of English garden centres and nurseries across the country, which are now set to reopen following the new advice issued by the government on Sunday, May 10.
How many Dobbies will open in England, Scotland and Wales?
A total of 54 English stores will open their doors on Wednesday, May 13.
In Wales, Dobbies’ Swansea branch was the first to reopen, on May 11. However all of the company’s 13 Scottish stores are set to stay closed for the foreseeable future.
Will the Dobbies restaurants reopen?
At the moment, only the garden centres will reopen, meaning the company’s adjoined restaurants - as well as the children’s soft play areas - will remain closed until further notice from the government.
However, peckish visitors looking for hot and cold drinks, sandwiches or bakery items can always order from Dobbies takeaway menu from Friday, May 15.
What safety measures will be in place?
To enforce social distancing, a queuing system (similar to those seen at supermarkets) will be introduced outside Dobbies stores, with floor markings indicating the length of two metres.
In addition to this, the garden centres will only allow a limited number of customers inside at one time, while trolley cleaning and hand sanitising stations will be introduced to all store entrances.
To protect the staff, the stores have added protective screens at checkouts, and customers will be advised to pay using contactless payment methods, if possible.
On top of this, the stores will be cleaned rigorously each day, to maintain good hygiene standards.
What have Dobbie's said?
Chief executive Graeme Jenkins said: “We have taken care to ensure we are following guidance provided by the Government, British Retail Consortium and Horticultural Trade Association to reopen responsibly.
“Our team is well prepared, social distancing measures are in place and we look forward to welcoming customers back into our stores across England.
“I would like to thank our team members and customers for their understanding during these uncertain times.”
FULL LIST: All the Dobbie's Garden Centres that will reopen from May 13, 2020:
- Shepton Mallet
- Shrewsbury
- Marple
- Carlisle
- Milton Keynes
- Reading
- Royston
- Bury St Edmunds
- Moreton Park
- Stirling
- Derby
- Liverpool
- Morpeth
- Huntingdon
- Southport
- Edinburgh
- Hungerford
- Sandyholm
- Aberdeen
- Lelant
- Inverness
- Braehead
- Cirencester
- Preston
- Beaconsfield
- Dunfermline
- Havant
- Stratford upon Avon
- Milngavie
- York
- Keston
- Perth
- Rugby
- Leicester
- Northampton
- Swansea
- Ponteland
- Ayr
- Peterborough
- Stapleton
- Gosforth
- Atherstone
- Harlestone Heath
- Stockton
- Brighton
- Cadnam
- Kings Lynn
- Swindon
- Andover
- Dundee
- Lisburn
- Aylesbury
- Altrincham
- Birtley
- Thornbury
- Telford
- Galton
- Gailey
- Gillingham
- Shenstone
- Chesterfield
- Woodbridge
- Pennine
- Livingston
- Gloucester
- Ashford
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