Which shops are classed as 'essential'

[2anddone]

I know supermarkets and chemists are classed as essential but what about shops like Poundland, b and m and home bargains who sell medical/cleaning supplies?
Does anyone know which shops stayed open the first time around please?

[Krazykaren07]

The shops you have mentioned stayed open during the first lockdown as they sold food and other essential items such as medicine and DIY etc, so presumably they will stay open this time around as well

[Sargass0]

Did your local Poundland and B & M stay open last time? Ours did so guessing its the same?

[HairyFloppins]

My dd works at Home Bargains they have stayed open all the way through as they sell food items. Some Poundlands shut but most stayed open. B&M will be open as well.

[CoronaIsWatching]

I hope Ikea and John Lewis stay open

[Utterlybutterly8]

I hope Ikea and John Lewis stay open

Presumably both will continue doing online deliveries, even if the stores have to shut?

[CarrieBlue]

Garden centres are staying open as buying plants in the winter is essential

[movingonup20]

Diy stores, home bargains type places and I think garden centres can remain open. Click and collect can remain open (so I presume Argos can, John Lewis does this, perhaps Ikea. M&S food only I believe

[Cornettoninja]

@CarrieBlue

Garden centres are staying open as buying plants in the winter is essential

Are they? Our local ones moved to collection only during the last lockdown.

I suppose it could be argued they provide means to grow your own food which is heavily dependent on the season...

[Pinkmagic1]

Last time our local b and m was open as it sells food, toiletries and medicine. Not sure about pound land but imagine it is similar situation.
A lot of garden centres sell pet food so suppose they could stay open on that ground.

[OneofPansPeople]

Bike shops were allowed to open.

[2anddone]

@Sargass0

Did your local Poundland and B & M stay open last time? Ours did so guessing its the same?

Thank you for answering
I don't know. I live in a village and last time relied on supermarket deliveries so I didn't leave the village for the entire of lockdown.
Unfortunately it cost so much more than shopping at Aldi and the Poundland type shops and I can't afford to do it again (self employed, business not picked up again yet) so trying to get an idea of what might be open.

[2anddone]

Thank you everyone

[PickAChew]

LSt time, M&S was food plus a small selection of clothing (mainly underwear and a few kids clothes) and home wares (handy because I managed to pick up some more lidded glass dishes for batch cooking, which I was doing more of)

[JanewaysBun]

Wilko did last time

[Allywill]

i was wondering about garden centres as i usually get my xmas tree from there.

[MayFayre]

1. Businesses and venues
   

To reduce social contact, the Government has ordered certain businesses and venues to close. These include:

all non-essential retail, including, but not limited to clothing and electronics stores, vehicle showrooms, travel agents, betting shops, auction houses, tailors, car washes, tobacco and vape shops.

Everything not included in the above, I think, counts as essential.

[PickAChew]

John Lewis probably won't have 5th eir department stores open since as well as waitrose, you can collect from a lot of coop stores, now. Handy for us, since our nearest waitrose is right next to our nearest John Lewis in the next city.

[CarrieBlue]

I suppose it could be argued they provide means to grow your own food which is heavily dependent on the season...

I’d have thought it’s far more to do with elderly Tory voters having somewhere to go for a nice cup of coffee. And the totally essential Christmas tree and decorations that will need to be bought in November.

[Splodgetastic]

Judging by my DM’s updates, B&M and Home Bargains we’re open throughout. I did try to persuade her that it wasn’t necessary to go every week / buy random shit, but she does love a bargain.

[Splodgetastic]

Sorry for typo aargh

[starfish4]

We visited a garden centre this morning. Very crowded in Xmas/gift section so no way that one can stay open

[babba2014]

I still don't understand why clothing shops are not essential. Buying online was not good last time. 100+ days delivery. The supermarkets don't have a good range of clothes for kids. I understand certain clothing shops not being open but I don't think they should do a market ban on all.

[Ilikewinter]

So just thinking about it potentially every shop can stay open....garden centres, B&Q, homebase, wickes, B&M, poundland, supermarkets, pharmacies, Greggs and food places (as takeout) open as classed as essential retailers and then everyone else operates on a click and collect basis....not much of a lock down then really!

[salcombebabe]

Currys are open but only for Click & Collect

[goose1964]

I'd love to see someone try to put a 64"TV into the back of a small car in Currys carpark