The Roadmap Out Of Lockdown
3rd March 2021
After nearly two months of lockdown, last week, the Prime Minister unveiled his plan to beat back the pandemic and restore a semblance of normality to the United Kingdom.
Led by data and not dates, the roadmap represents the earliest possible points at which the restrictions specified could be lifted. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that there are four stages to his plan to lift lockdown. Different rules will be relaxed at different times, but this depends on the virus being kept under control.
Step one
From 8 March – All schools will open with outdoor after-school sports and activities allowed. Recreation for two people in an outdoor public area (such as a park) will be allowed, meaning they will be able to sit down for a coffee, drink or picnic.
From 29 March – Outdoor events would be permitted for either six people or two households. This will potentially involve gatherings in private gardens. Sports such as tennis or basketball in outdoor facilities will reopen. Organised sport, such as grassroots football, will also return.
Step two
From 12 April – Non-essential retail, indoor leisure (including gyms and swimming pools), outdoor hospitality and personal care will open.
The reopening of gyms, indoor leisure centres and indoor swimming pools will be restricted to use by individuals or household groups. At this point, the Prime Minister also indicated that self-contained/self-catered hospitality accommodation will be able to open.
Described as the “season of hope” by Boris Johnson, Garden Square Shopping Centre looks toward the spring and summer with great optimism. It has been an undeniably challenging year for all brick-and-mortar retail and hospitality, but we are incredibly excited to reopen in full on the 12 April. We’ll be together again soon!
Step three
From 17 May – At this point, “most restrictions” on meeting outdoors will be lifted, with a total of 30 people able to get together. Six people or two households will also be able to meet indoors.
We will likely see restaurants, pubs and hotels being able to reopen for indoor dining, although the “rule of six” policy will remain in place. This means that we will finally be able to dine inside Costa and Ciao Italia!
Step four
From 21 June – At this point, the government aims to remove all legal restrictions on life. The requirement of social distancing and face coverings will be reassessed – after this, it is likely that we will see a relaxation of the ‘rule of six’ and all large gatherings will be allowed to take place.
At this point, we hope to resume our summer events programme, as we plan on welcoming everyone back to our shopping centre!
Garden Square Shopping Centre
Until the final relaxation of measures in June, Garden Square Shopping Centre continues to place the upmost importance on the health and safety of our guests, customers and employees, working within the confines of directions from the government.
Please continue to follow the social distancing guidelines when you visit. To find out more, click here. We’d like to thank everyone for their continued patience and understanding during this time.
We will communicate updates and any changes to information via our website, Facebook and Twitter.
We can’t wait to welcome you back this spring!
