B&Q has reopened all 288 stores across the UK with strict social distancing measures in place, more than four weeks since closing all outlets following the coronavirus lockdown.
Since 23rd March when the UK lockdown was announced, B&Q switched to making its website, diy.com, as its primary store, closing all brick-and-mortar stores for browsing and purchasing, offering only a contact-free Click + Collect service from local stores, and a limited home delivery service.
As a hardware store, B&Q falls under the government's list of 'essential' businesses and is allowed to remain open throughout lockdown, however, it proceeded to close stores for the safety of its staff and customers.
In the last few weeks, B&Q has 'watched other essential retailers support social distancing in their stores', and has now followed best practice by reopening its stores.
The retailer first trialled 14 stores, followed by 61 stores and a further 80 last week, bringing the total to 155. B&Q initially said it planned to open its remaining stores across the UK by early May, but now, all stores have reopened.
However, stores in the ROI and Guernsey remain closed in accordance with local legislation.
'Similar to shopping at supermarkets, we’ve introduced social distancing controls at our reopened stores. We’re strictly limiting the number of customers in store at any one time, and so you may find you need to queue if you visit the store,' B&Q explained.
At these reopened stores, customers can only purchase products that are available to shop and take away in store on the day. The garden centres within these stores, stocking a range of plants, are open for self-service.
Currently, services such as kitchen and bathroom design, Valspar paint mixing, timber cutting and key cutting are not available.
Measures include sanitiser stations for trolleys; safe queuing 2 metres apart before entering the store; 2 metre navigational markers on the floor and directional arrows to guide customers; and perspex screens and contactless payments only at checkouts.
B&Q colleagues will be positioned around the store, inside and out, to help remind everyone to stay safe and follow social distancing guidelines.
Graham Bell, B&Q CEO, commented: 'Our highest priority is to keep our colleagues safe at work and our customers safe while shopping. In all our stores, we have strict social distancing measures in place. Customers are adhering to these, helping us to offer a shopping environment that is safe for everyone, while we help them to look after their homes and gardens, as well as their wellbeing.
'Whether shopping in our stores or online, we continue to ask all our customers to follow the Government’s social distancing guidelines and to shop responsibly only when they need to.'
Shopping on B&Q online
Customers can still place orders at diy.com for a limited range of products for Click+Collect in store, as well as for contact-free home delivery.
Due to extremely high demand, there was a queuing system to enter B&Q's website, with delays of more than two hours. Although this appears to have reverted back to normal now.
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20 garden bistro sets perfect for alfresco dining (and a spot of relaxing)
Made from certified hard wood, this folding wooden bistro set provides a great place to sit in the summer months. This one is best kept stored away in a shed during winter.
READ MORE: 14 stylish outdoor cushions to buy for your garden
Perfect for urban spaces, we love the soft, rounded design of this garden bistro set, and the chairs tuck perfectly underneath the table when it's not in use. It's perfect for compact spaces, especially a balcony or small patio, and is available in several colours including green, chartreuse, grey and teal.
Crafted from FSC certified teak, the chairs are topped with a plastic seat and back rest, while the table boasts a timeless slatted design. The white colourway makes it ideal for a contemporary garden.
This hard-wearing, fully recyclable and stylish garden bistro set is perfect for the eco-conscious shopper, and it's a great sustainable buy. The chairs are made with 100% recycled plastics from marine debris, and the table is made from FSC approved Eucalyptus.
This is a bistro set with a difference! These rocking chairs are made for relaxing, and sipping on a drink or two. The set includes two rockers and a matching table, with tempered glass top.
Enjoy alfresco dining with this Moroccan-inspired bistro set. With an intricate tile detailing, soft padded cushions and powder-coated steel frames, this weather-resistant style is great for adding some character to your garden.
thompson & morgan Garden Gear Leon String Bistro Set
Relax in style with Thompson and Morgan's modern bistro set. The chairs have been inspired by 1950s Mexican furniture and aims to be as comfortable as possible.
This outdoor bar bistro set is perfect for enjoying drinks and a quick bite to eat. With a high-quality acacia wood construction and a natural oil finish, this durable bar set is weatherproof and easy to clean. The tabletop even has a parasol hole if you want some shade when the sun's out.
We love this space-saving bistro set for a balconies, which is perfect for those of us who live in the city. Both the table and the chairs fold away easily, so you won't have to worry about it taking up too much space.
Gardens are a place of refuge, so it's important we make them as inviting as we can. We love this rustic-style bistro set from Cox & Cox which has been hand-woven with a unique synthetic roped weave. It has also been made from rust and weather-resistant materials, so it's suitable for the outdoors all year around.
This Scandi-style bistro set includes two chairs and a two-seater bench, so it's perfect for the whole family to unwind. We love the slate grey design, which complements every patio space.
READ MORE: The best sun loungers to bring poolside chic to your garden
Made of durable plastic, this bistro set is weather resistant and easy to clean too. The table and the chairs can be folded and stored when not in use.
Keep it simple with this stylish bronze bistro set, perfect for any size garden. The chairs are foldable too.
Looking for a bar style bistro set? This 2-seater from Argos is a great budget buy. Slimline and made from durable metal, the high table and chairs fold down easily and simply for storage.
On the hunt for a more modern style? This smart grey set from Cox & Cox features two comfortable chairs and a small round table for for drinks. It's also available in blue, too.
Available in a range of bright colours and with a metallic iron structure, this bistro set combines design and comfort and can be used outdoors. Store away safely during winter.
If you're looking for a modern rattan style, then this bistro set is worth the investment. Both the table and chairs are made from synthetic rattan, which means they can be left outside all year round. We love the unique Insta-worthy round table, too.
This slimline wooden bistro set is perfect for balconies and small terrace spaces. It's made from a beautiful eucalyptus wood and includes two chairs with blue cushions, as well as a practical table.
READ MORE: 17 balcony furniture pieces for even the smallest of spaces
With slender, hand painted grey frames and a decorative curled finish at each arm, this garden bistro set is rather charming. The granite topped table adds an elegant touch, while the chairs are topped with grey water repellent cushions.
This foldaway bistro set in vibrant orange is brilliant if you want to add a pop of colour to your garden. Best of all, it's lightweight and is easy to store away when not in use.
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