Poundland to reopen Mansfield store as lockdown restrictions eased

The retailer will start with the reopening of about 30 stores next Monday, May 18, and includes the Mansfield store in the Four Seasons Shopping Centre.

Poundland has kept most open for essential shopping, but in March it closed some of its stores until lockdown restrictions were eased.

“Operation Sleeping Beauty” will see it gently begin the process of bringing stores out of hibernation.

Bosses say strict health and safety measures will operate as they do in all Poundland stores that have remained open.

Measures customers can expect to see include marshals at the door to limit the number of customers in store, floor markers to remind customers of social distancing, and perspex screens to protect staff and customers.

The closure of every other self-checkout will also make appropriate social distancing easier.

Rigorous hygiene routines will be in place, which include colleagues washing their hands every 20 minutes and key surfaces being wiped down every hour.

“We’ve never been prouder of our role as a retailer at the heart of communities and high streets,” said Poundland’s retail director Austin Cooke.

“While safety has to come first, we’re delighted to be able to begin reopening hibernating Poundland stores to fully serve those communities across the UK with the essentials they need.”

In normal times, Poundland attracts seven million shoppers a week to its stores across the UK.