AFTER almost three months of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Boris Johnson granted permission for all non-essential shops to reopen.

On Monday, June 15, reporter George Champion ventured down to The Lexicon in Bracknell to see how its parade of shops reopened in line with social distancing regulations.

READ MORE: PHOTOS: Scenes in Bracknell as hundreds queue for Primark's reopening

Throughout Bracknell Town Centre, there were social distancing markers everywhere, one-way systems, barriers and signs; all in an effort prevent the spread of the virus.

Although it had been reported that the queue for Primark was over two hours long before the Lexicon opened, overall, queues were surprisingly short considering certain popular outlets like Primark had been closed for some time.

Each retailer had a staff member illuminated by a high visibility jacket on the door to advise social distancing measures and marshal the queue.

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Fenwicks, for example, had a member of staff guarding door with a noticeboard explaining the procedures in store and their preference to contactless payment over cash.

And upon entry to every store in both The Lexicon and Princess Square, customers are required to use the contactless hand sanitiser and adhere to strict social distancing rules within the shop itself.

There were, however, businesses such as Game who opted for a ‘no browsing policy' and shoppers were only allowed entry the shop if they knew exactly what they were buying.

Not only were retailers open for business but Nandos were also allowing customers to enter the restaurant, order their food from the app and take it home to eat.

I spoke to a number of Lexicon shoppers who were delighted to see their town centre reopen after almost 100 days of closure.

One couple said: “This is delightful. We’ve waited such a long time to have our shops back, it’s a wonderful change of scenery and the way it has all been organised makes you feel so safe.”

“I’m so glad to get out of my flat, it’s a positive change of atmosphere and I love all the items on sale!” said another Lexicon shopper.

So, is there some return to normality? Bracknell shoppers certainly think so and with the virus infection rate lowering by the day, this must surely be one step in a slow return to the reality we have so sorely missed.