“Huge” queues have been building outside Primark on Oxford Street since at least 6.30am as non-essential stores begin to welcome customers back.
As of Monday (June 15), many non-essential shops are allowed to reopen, after three months of closure during the corona crisis.
Fashion shops, charity shops and markets are among the retailers allowed to reopen, while restaurants, bars, pubs, hairdressers and hotels are some of those that must remain closed.
Primark’s reopening was largely expected, with queues building up outside stores across the country.
A video showing queues outside the store on Oxford Street was captioned: “Huge queue for Primark in central London, people have been up since 6.30am waiting outside.
“This store has opened its doors an hour early to avoid queues and get customers in.”
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The video is not available
Smiti Khaitan said there was no queue when she arrived at 8.30am to shop in London’s largest Primark.
She said: “I’m already at home, I live five minutes away so it was easy.
“There was no queue. I went at 8.30am and they had already let shoppers in when I arrived.
“I went straight in, I had to sanitize, they had a dispenser.
— There was no queue at the tills either.
The customer described their shopping experience as “super safe”.
She said: “There was also a lot of staff. And there were actually staff at every escalator telling you when to get on so you can social distance.”
The video is not available
People have had mixed reactions to shoppers visiting Primark stores amid the pandemic.
One user tweeted: “The only find people will pick up if # Primark is a second wave of the virus! It’s not Black Friday!”
Another said: “I’ve never been much of a shopper but can’t see myself rushing to Primark this morning
“Although it’s good that people are still spending I guess!!”
One user said: “If we think we’ve seen horrific mass riots in London in recent weeks wait until Primark Oxford St opens in ten minutes…”
Another added: “You’re not mad about Primark or Topshop reopening in one of London’s busiest shopping districts but the BLM protests are DISGUSTING?”
Monday (June 15) will be an important day for many non-essential shopkeepers who have suffered months of closures since the nation went into lockdown – when some businesses will have feared they may never reopen.
It was only last week that London Zoo sent a desperate plea to the government to allow them to reopen. The company found itself in crisis as it did not qualify for bank or government loans, left with costs in the region of £1 million a month for animal care alone.
Thankfully, it was announced that zoos and safari parks can reopen along with many other shops.
Unfortunately for others, it may still be a long wait until they can properly serve customers again.
Boris Johnson has ordered a review of the two meter social distancing rule, following concerns that businesses in the hospitality industry will not be able to open with it in place.
Current government plans hope to see pubs and restaurants reopen by July 4 at the earliest, assuming the country does not experience a second wave of Covid-19.
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