Housewares stockists and cookshops in Northern Ireland will close their doors for six weeks from Christmas Eve in Northern Ireland’s new lockdown. Click-and-collect retail will not be permitted this time, and homeware, hardware and garden centres will not be categorised as essential retail in Northern Ireland.
Independent department store Warden Brothers of Newtonards and The Chef Shop, Belfast are among those making the most of busy trade since reopening on December 11. The White House in Portrush (part of Ulster Stores) has started its sale early (on December 17) with up to 50% off in Cookshop & Home.
Meanwhile non-essential retail in Wales will also close after trading on Christmas Eve, with Wales entering Level 4 of its tiered system on December 28. However, cookshops and housewares stockists will be able to sell non-essential items on a click-and-collect basis.
According to North Wales Live, supermarkets will be cordoning off areas selling non-essential items if they are ‘clearly separate’, but if non-essential goods share the same aisles as other items then they are likely to be available for sale.
Top: Busy trade: Warden Brothers’ festive window.
