‘Enormous’ queues outside Primark stores as non-essential shops open for first time since lockdown
‘The queue for Primark is wrapped around the side of the building and still growing’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Consumers have wasted no time in heading back to the shops with “enormous” queues being spotted outside Primark stores across England.
From 15 June, non-essential shops are allowed to reopen as part of the government’s second phase in the roadmap to easing lockdown.
The measure includes fashion retailers, in addition to other businesses such as hardware and homeware stores, charity shops, dress fitters and museum gift shops, as long as they adhere to social distancing guidelines.
On Monday morning, many people eager to indulge in a spot of retail therapy headed to Primark branches across the country, a couple of months after the retail giant announced a drop in sales from £650m a month to zero.
Several pictures shared on Twitter showed huge queues outside the stores, with lines of consumers wrapping around buildings in some instances.
The photographs show people waiting to enter the stores while maintaining a safe distance from one another.
Some consumers are wearing face masks in the images, although this doesn’t apply to all.
One Twitter user shared a photograph of a queue outside Primark in Liverpool, stating that the line is “enormous”.
“Staff are welcoming shopping back while they wait in the queue, and reminding everyone to keep the 2 metre social distancing rule in mind as they shop,” they said.
Another person stated that there was a queue of around 60 people outside the Primark store in Chester, “so the store manager decided to open early at 8.15am instead of 9am”.
Shoppers visiting Primark in central London were reportedly waiting outside the shop several hours before it was due to open.
“Huge queue for Primark in central London, people have been up since 6.30am waiting outside,” a Twitter user said.
“This store has opened its doors an hour early to avoid queues and get customers inside.”
Primark is reopening all 153 of its English stores from today.
At the branch on Oxford Street, hand sanitiser dispensers have been stationed at the entrance, where staff members are observing customers as they enter the shop.
Associated British Foods plc, of which Primark is a subsidiary, stated safety is the retailer’s “highest priority” when welcoming customers and staff members back to stores.
“Social distancing protocols, hand sanitiser stations, perspex screens at tills and additional cleaning of high frequency touch points in the store are among the measures we are implementing,” Associated British Foods said earlier this month.
“These measures are designed to safeguard the health and wellbeing of everyone in store and to instil confidence in the store environment.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments