Boris Johnson has confirmed that all shops will be allowed to reopen on June 15 as part of the Government's three-stage plan to ease lockdown measures.
The Prime Minister previously stressed that was 'contingent on progress in the fight against coronavirus", and that it will be possible as the Government has continued to meet the "five tests" that were set out for easing lockdown.
"This has been the most challenging periods for high streets and shops in our history," Mr Johnson said. "Never before have all shops been ordered to shut in this way.
"I am so pleased we can now allow all shops to reopen from Monday."
He added that it is "vital" that retail establishments "ensure they are meeting Covid-secure guidelines" - including implementing relevant hygiene and social distancing measures - in order to protect customers and staff.
Outdoor markets and car showrooms were permitted to reopen on June 1, with Mr Johnson saying that "social distancing is generally easier" in these settings because of their more spacious nature.
Shops planning to reopen such as Marks & Spencer and Ikea have already said that they will impose restrictions on the number of customers entering their stores and that close-contact services such as clothes fitting and make-up are to remain suspended until further notice.
Hairdressers, nail bars and beauty salons, pubs, clubs and restaurants will, however, remain closed until at least July, because the Government says the risk of transmission is higher because of greater person-to-person contact over longer periods.
The Telegraph reported on June 3 that, in a bid to "unleash the Great British haircut", Boris Johnson is considering proposals for hair salons and barber shops to reopen later this month.
As non-essential retail prepares to open its doors from June 15, this is what we know so far.
Q: What retailers are opening in June?
A: John Lewis stores in Poole and Kingston will be the first to reopen on June 15 followed by another 11 sites later that week. The stores at Bluewater, Cambridge, Cheadle, Cheltenham, High Wycombe, Horsham, Ipswich, Norwich, Nottingham, Solihull and Welwyn will welcome customers back on Thursday, June 18.
Debenhams will be reopening 90 of its stores in England on June 15. A further 40 outlets in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are set to open at a later date.
Frasers Group, which includes Sports Direct, Jack Wills, Game and House of Fraser, indicated it is planning to reopen on June 15 and prepared to reopen as many as 800 UK stores on June 1.
Currys has already opened 19 of its stores since May 22 on a drive-through collection-only basis. Customers are asked to place their order online before driving and parking at one of the open outlets. Once they have confirmed through email their arrival, a staff member will then load the boot of the car with the purchased product.
Ikea reopened 19 stores on June 1 with outlets in Croydon, Greenwich, Lakeside, Wembley, Tottenham, Norwich collection point, Birmingham, Nottingham, Belfast, Manchester, Warrington, Gateshead, Leeds, Sheffield, Milton Keynes, Reading, Southampton, Bristol and Exeter.
Halfords fully reopened 53 of its outlets on May 29 after successfully trialling social-distancing measures on its shop floors.
Greggs has announced it is hoping to open around 800 of its stores in the middle of June.
Waterstones has not indicated whether it will be joining the other retailers on June 15 but has said it will place any books that are touched by browsing customers in a 72-hour quarantine. Its warehouse is currently operating with a reduced workforce, and click-and-collect services remain suspended for the time being.
Boots will open its beauty counters on June 15. The pharmacy chain has remained open throughout the lockdown due to its status as an essential business, providing medication to people during the pandemic.
Q: What social distancing measures can I expect?
A: The Government has issued fresh guidance to staff and shop owners for preventative measures that should be in place in stores to reduce the transmission of the virus.
Boris Johnson said that non-essential retail would open on June 15 "provided the five tests are still being met, and shops have been made Covid-secure".
Shoppers should expect to wait in queues outside because many stores will be limiting the number of entrances they have open and imposing a restriction on the number of customers entering at any one time.
John Lewis has said that fitting rooms will remain closed until further notice. Returned stock will be separated from other items for 72 hours - in line with government guidance - and the use of escalators and lifts is also to be restricted.
Perspex protective screens at checkouts will be in place at Boots, with counters and tills covered to reduce virus transmission. There will be a triage system in place to meet the different needs of customers, whilst testers and face-to-face beauty consultations will operate via video for the forseeable future to adhere with social distancing.
Ikea will initially be operating with reduced opening hours, and wardens will be patrolling aisles in Ikea and Boots to ensure that distances of two metres are being kept to by customers.
Other steps that could be taken include virtual queuing, returns drop boxes, and enabling collection of online orders from car parks. A number of retailers will only operate on a click-and-collect basis to begin with.
Read more: 9 ways shops plan to keep us safe when they reopen
Q: Can I take my children to the shops?
A: On June 1, restrictions changed and public gatherings of up to six people are allowed, although the Prime Minister has stressed that "minimising contact with others is still the best way to avoid transmission" of the virus.
