Shops, beauty salons, leisure facilities and hospitality venues across the West Midlands have opened their doors today as the next phase of the Government's roadmap out of the covid lockdown kicks into gear.
While things may seem a little different for locals venturing out today, those running the businesses will welcome back customers with open arms.
But what are the rules and where can people go across the region?
Phase Two of Lockdown Easing
The following business premises can open today:
- Non-essential retail
- Personal care such as hairdressers and nail salons
- Indoor leisure such as gyms but only for use by people alone or in household groups - so no yoga or circuit classes just yet
- Outdoor attractions such as zoos, drive-in cinemas and theme parks
Most Read
- Pubs and bars for outside drinking and/or eating with table service only and no curfew
- Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets
Latest on the lockdown road map
Events
- Funerals can continue with up to 30 mourners
- Weddings, receptions and commemorative events such as wakes is now up to 15
Phase 3, not due to commence before May 17, will see a greater easing of restrictions on who can meet and where. Hospitality venues will be allowed to open indoor areas with restrictions and venues such as cinemas and hotels can re-open.
Limited crowds are due to be welcomed back into indoor and outdoor sporting arenas.
What's happening in the West Midlands?
Don’t miss
Businesses have been outlining their reopening plans following confirmation last week the Government was able to stick to the April 12 start date for the next phase of coming out of lockdown.
Here are some of the highlights from across the region.
Victoria Square and Parklets
Birmingham City Council has teamed up with the Colmore and Retail business improvement districts to create a new outdoor seating area in the heart of the business district to draw people into the hospitality venues.
There are 120 seats dotted around the historic Victoria Square where city workers and visitors can enjoy some al fresco food and live music while four beach huts will open in the coming weeks, housing food and drink vendors from across the business district.
A series of so-called 'parklets', essentially covered benches and tables, started springing up around the business district last summer and are available.
Both the seats in Victoria Square and the parklets are free of charge and not tied to any particular venue.
Birmingham Post Business Awards 2021
The Birmingham Post Business Awards are back for 2021 and The event will be held online only on Tuesday June 15 and will celebrate businesses and individuals across 12 categories including our overall Company of the Year and a special covid award.
The deadline to enter the awards is Monday April 19 and sponsorship opportunities are also now available. Please email paige.jackson@reachplc.com for details and follow the hashtag #BPBAwards for updates on social media.
The ceremony will be hosted on our new virtual events platform The Awards Room which gives nominees and sponsors the chance to experience real-time networking and hear from speakers.
All of your attendees will be placed together on your own table and you can invite people from outside your group to join you during the event.
Your table will also have private chat, allowing you to communicate with your colleagues during the awards. For more information about our Business Awards and other events please visit
A section of Colmore Row/Waterloo Street is also becoming a no-car zone to encourage more people to visit the business district..
A full programme of summer events will be announced over the coming weeks.
Colmore BID chief executive Michele Wilby said: "After months of planning, we can officially announce the launch of 'Summer in the Square'.
"Over the course of the past 12 months, we have continued to consult and support the businesses in our district by any means possible.
"Road closures have been on the agenda for some time, however due to works happening to the city's infrastructure, many of the suggestions were just not possible.
"Summer in the Square will allow for increased outdoor seating in a safe and measured way. We know people cannot wait to return to the city, however we need to do this carefully."
A similar series of parklets and benches have been in installed in Solihull's Mell Square and High Street by the town's business improvement district.
Colmore Business District
Although home to many of Birmingham's major corporations, the business district also has a thriving dining out scene.
A clutch of bars and restaurants have confirmed they will be offering outside space for customers to enjoy.
They include 200 Degrees, Damascena, Dishoom, Henman and Cooper, Java Lounge, Primitivo, Purecraft and Wayland's Yard.
Merry Hill
The retail hub in Dudley said that visitors would be able to try on their fashion items in-store, with changing rooms permitted to be open alongside new safety measures.
Restaurants which have offered takeaways or delivery services will continue to do so while some of its other bars and restaurants continue to prepare for re-opening dine-in facilities later this spring.
It said it was expecting the busiest periods to be between 10.30am and 3pm with some of its retailers offering bookable slots such as for a shoe fitting at Clarks.
There will also be a one-way system in place and visitors are urged to wear a face mask and sanitise hands regularly.
Bullring
Like Merry Hill, Bullring in Birmingham is expected to be very busy today especially.
For bargain hunters, department store and anchor tenant Debenhams is having a major stock clearance as the company prepares to close all of its high street stores next month after going into administration last year.