DISCOUNTER B&M is keeping its stores open for customers during England's third national lockdown.
The shutdown has forced non-essential shops to close, but B&M is allowed to remain open as it sells essentials such as food and toilet roll.
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On January 4, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered Brits to stay at home, while schools have shut until the February half term.
The closures will leave many of us relying on online retailers to get our hands on products, such as clothes, electricals and furniture.
Meanwhile, essential shops such as supermarkets are allowed to stay open.
This includes B&M, which has remained open to shoppers throughout the pandemic and the two previous lockdowns.
List of businesses that can stay open in lockdown
THE government has published the below list of businesses that can stay open, which is largely similar to Tier 4.
- Supermarkets
- Pharmacies
- Garden centres
- Building merchants and suppliers of building products and off-licences
- Market stalls selling essential retail
- Businesses providing repair services but only if they primarily offer repair services
- Petrol stations
- Automatic (but not manual) car washes
- Vehicle repair and MOT services
- Bicycle shops
- Taxi and vehicle hire businesses
- Banks and building societies
- Post offices
- Short-term loan providers and money transfer businesses
- Funeral directors
- Laundrettes and dry cleaners
- Medical and dental services
- Vets and pet shops
- Animal rescue centres, boarding facilities, and animal groomers
- Agricultural supplies shops
- Mobility and disability support shops
- Storage and distribution facilities
- Car parks
- Public toilets
- Motorway service areas
- Outdoor playgrounds
- Outdoor parts of botanical gardens and heritage sites for exercise
- Places of worship
- Crematoriums and burial grounds
Following the announcement last week, B&M has confirmed it's open as usual.
This is because the majority of its sales are within grocery, household cleaning, personal care, DIY and pet care goods, it said on its website.
What are B&M's opening hours?
B&M's opening hours are typically from 8am until 8pm Monday to Saturday.
Stores are then open from 11am until 5pm on Sundays.
However, it does vary between stores so it's worth checking this in advance.
B&M has more than 600 stores across the UK. You can find your nearest one by using its store locator tool.
What safety measures are in place?
To help protect customers and workers, stores have been updated with protective screens at checkouts and B&M staff have sanitizer, face masks and gloves.
Customers must also wear face masks when shopping in store, unless exempt.
The discounter is limiting the number of customers allowed into each store at any one time.
If a store reaches its limit, a staff member will ask you to queue outside until there is space.
When the queuing system is in place, B&M gives priority access to NHS and care workers, so make sure you bring your ID with you.
It also gives priority access to disabled and elderly customers who may not be able to queue up for long periods of time.
B&M is asking customers to use contactless payments where possible, and has upped its contactless limit to £45.
Can I order online from B&M?
No, B&M sadly doesn't offer online shopping so you'll have to pop by a store.
If you're planning to, just make sure you only do so if you're buying essentials at the same time.
You can check what items are available in B&M stores on its website.
Keen to do some DIY? We explain opening guidance for B&Q, Wickes and Homebase.
Wondering which shops and businesses can stay open during the lockdown? Check out the full list.
The tighter restrictions come as the spread of the new strain of COVID-19 has led to "rapidly escalating case numbers across the country".
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