How UK shops are innovating for a new normal, plus London’s parks are the new pubs

Shops are reopening across Britain but with a new look. Hand sanitizing stations have been installed, caps on the amount of people allowed through the doors have been imposed. During lockdown, the Office for National Statistics shows non-food shops have been losing £1.7 billion a week and now they’re trying to draw customers back in. But how will they innovate to survive post-pandemic? The Evening Standard’s Lizzie Edmonds was at Oxford Street this morning to witness the re-opening, and tells us what shopping’s "new normal" feels like.

And, in lockdown, London’s parks have become the capital’s replacement for pubs. While at first people were using the spaces to reconnect with nature, now with the sun out and eased restrictions, every weekend they’ve become the home of impromptu festivals. Hackney mayor Philip Glanville tells us council’s are doing what they can to make parks welcoming for all, but ultimately, it's up to visitors to do the right thing. 

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