Peterborough’s John Lewis to end 18 weeks closure with re-opening tomorrow

Peterborough’s John Lewis store will throw open its doors to customers tomorrow (Thursday) after a lengthy shutdown that sparked fears for its future.
Gary Roundtree, head of branch at John Lewis Peterborough. EMN-190521-125215009Gary Roundtree, head of branch at John Lewis Peterborough. EMN-190521-125215009
Gary Roundtree, head of branch at John Lewis Peterborough. EMN-190521-125215009

The re-opening at 10am will bring to an end an 18-weeks-long closure which began with the Covid lockdown on March 24 when all non-essential retailers were ordered to shut.

The return to work will be a relief to the 390 staff employed at the store, based in the Queensgate shopping centre, which underwent a £21 million refurbishment last year.

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John Lewis Peterborough. EMN-190521-125143009John Lewis Peterborough. EMN-190521-125143009
John Lewis Peterborough. EMN-190521-125143009
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In a message to customers Gary Rowntree, head of branch, stated: “I’m delighted to welcome everyone back to John Lewis & Partners, Peterborough.

“The shop will look a little different when we reopen as our priority will be to keep you and our Partners safe, while providing as many of our normal services as possible.

“We can’t wait to see you back shopping with us.”

A John Lewis spokeswoman said: “Customers will find out new measures include hand sanitiser, which is located at every entrance to our shops, signage throughout the store encouraging customers to keep two metres apart and special signage about new protocols for lift and escalator usage.

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“There will be screens at tills and in areas where it is not possible to maintain two metre social distancing which includes the welcome desk area.

“We will also be doing regular rigorous cleaning and we’ll be offering a safe and simple returns process - for example in line with government guidance we are going to separate returned stock from new or old stock for 48 hours.

She added: “Almost all Partners are returning. The only ones not returning are those with health issues or a family member with a health issue.

“We reopen this Thursday at 10am and will trade until 5.30pm on weekdays, from 10am until 6pm on a Saturday and from 10.30am to 4.30pm on a Sunday.”

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The store was among the last wave of John Lewis’ then 50 branches to re-open following the Government’s easing of lockdown rules on June 15.

That delay triggered fears the struggling department store chain’s newly appointed chairman Dame Sharon White had earmarked the Peterborough store, along with a number of others, for closure.

And it prompted Peterborough MP Paul Bristow to fire off an angry letter to Dame Sharon urging her to ‘put her confidence in Peterborough’ and save the store.

Mr Bristow said: “John Lewis reopening in Queensgate is a vote of confidence in Peterborough and our city’s future.

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“It’s a super retailer that services our own population and brings people into our city who in turn use restaurants and other shops.

Covid-19 has been difficult but our future is incredibly bright. It’s time to be positive and not talk down Peterborough.”

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