Liverpool’s shops, salons, bars, restaurants and gyms reopen as lockdown restrictions ease

Liverpool’s shops, hairdressers, pub beer gardens and pavement cafes reopened today as the coronavirus lockdown eased across England.

It’s been over four months since we last strolled through the city centre, but it’s going to be a different kind of retail experience, with visitors urged to think carefully before making their journey as part of our healthy return to the high street. 

Monday 12 April marks the return of non-essential stores, bars and restaurants with outside seating areas, salons, hairdresser and gyms.

All of Liverpool’s shopping and leisure areas are back open with Liverpool ONE, Metquarter, Bold Street, Castle Street and Church Street all seeing hundreds of early morning visitors keen to get there hands on the latest trends, and enjoy the first shopping experience of 2021.

The Albert Dock has reopened the majority of its restaurants and bars, and the Baltic Triangle is set to welcome back visitors to the likes of Punch Tarmey’s, Baltic Market and more.

For visitors to the city centre, Public Health England says you should wear a face covering inside stores, with exceptions made for very young children, and those with disabilities or breathing difficulties. 

Retail workers will be wearing face coverings at the discretion of individual stores, with customers keeping a safe 2-meter distance from staff and other visitors, and hand sanitiser facilities available.

In Liverpool ONE, shoppers are reminded to #loveyourliverpool by following directions and markings as part of a new pedestrian system. This will direct shoppers to stick to the left at all times, with easy-to-follow signs so we can enjoy peace of mind with plenty of socially distanced space to shop. 

During your visit, you’ll see touch-points including escalators and hand rails being sanitised every hour, and only people who share a household sharing lift facilities.

Regularly cleaning your hands and avoiding touching your face is still highly effective in stopping the spread in between visiting shops and handling merchandise. You’ll find hand sanitiser stations signposted and located around Liverpool ONE, along with limited, free to use bathroom facilities. In case of queues, it’s well worth taking a small hand sanitiser with you.

There are lots of new things you can check out too including Biennial artworks dotted across the city centre.

A huge new Pandora store is open on Church Street. The jewellers have taken over the old Schuh site.

Next has taken over the former Forever 21 site and is now open. The three floors are a larger unit for Next which moved from its old premises on the other side of Church Street and Liverpool ONE.

B&M has opened its new site at Clayton Square. The store, in the former Clas Ohlson opened at the start of March.

Work continues to take place on city centre connectivity, on both Lime Street and the Strand. Car parks remain open, but plan your journey in advance as some of your bus routes might have changed since the beginning of the year.

From 12 April, Liverpool ONE’s non-symptomatic covid testing pop-up centre will be open 9.30am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday and on Sundays from 11am-5pm.