COVID-19 update – 10 November – Businesses that can stay open

Thanks to our friends at Lincoln Business Improvement Group for highlighting this, we have posted a summary of which businesses can remain open in the current lockdown phase.

The second lockdown has caused confusion as to which types of businesses can remain open, especially where retailers sell both essential and non-essential items.

Businesses that can remain open

• Food retailers, including food markets, supermarkets, convenience stores and corner shops. This also includes fresh food retailers (such as butchers, bakers, greengrocers, fishmongers, and delicatessens)
• Off licenses and licensed shops selling alcohol
• Pharmacies (including non-dispensing pharmacies) and chemists
• Newsagents
• Hardware (such as tools, builders’ hardware, paint and glass) stores, building merchants and building services
• Petrol stations, car repair shops, bicycle shops and MOT services. Other vehicle repair can also go ahead at these venues.
• Car parks and motorway service areas
• Taxi or vehicle hire businesses
• Banks, building societies, credit unions, short term loan providers, savings clubs, cash points and undertakings which by way of business operate currency exchange offices, transmit money (or any representation of money) by any means or cash cheques which are made payable to customers
• Post offices
• Funeral directors
• Laundrettes and dry cleaners
• Dental services, opticians, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or health services, including services relating to mental health
• Veterinary surgeons, animal rescue centres, boarding facilities and pet shops. Animal grooming facilities may also stay open but must only be used for the purposes of the animal’s welfare (and not for aesthetic purposes).
• Garden centres and agricultural supplies shops. This does not include florists.
• Storage and distribution facilities, including delivery, drop off or collection points, where the facilities are in the premises of a business allowed to remain open. For example, you can return an order to a dropbox in a supermarket or drop it off for collection in a newsagents. Deliveries of supplies can also go ahead for premises that are otherwise required to close by law

Businesses and venues that provide goods for sale or hire are permitted to remain open, including if they operate from an outdoor market stall, or at a defined concession within a shopping centre. Businesses that provide services (rather than goods) – such as accountants, solicitors, and estate agents – are not required to close.

What do I need to do if I sell a mixture of essential and non-essential items?

Businesses who sell both essential and non-essential items are allowed to continue to do so and are not permitted to close off any areas where the non-essential items are sold. However, where a business selling essential items has a separate business embedded within it is required to close.

Find out more