Big queues form as IKEA reopens Sheffield store and other branches

Such was the demand for the store in Sheffield, one driver described how it had caused ‘massive traffic’ on surrounding roads, with traffic stating to tail back to the M1 slip road.

One of those queuing in Sheffield described how it was ‘red hot’ and suggested IKEA should be selling bottles of water to customers waiting to get inside.

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IKEA’s stores in the UK have been closed since the coronavirus lockdown began in March but the Sheffield branch was one of 19 across England and Northern Ireland to reopen today, with new safety measures in place and limits on the number of customers allowed in at any one time.

IKEA bosses told ahead of reopening how wardens would patrol stores to help shoppers and ensure they keep their distance from each other.

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Families are banned, with the business saying it will only allow one adult and one child per household inside the store at any one point.

The 19 stores reopening are Croydon, Greenwich, Lakeside, Wembley, Tottenham, Norwich collection point, Birmingham, Nottingham, Belfast, Manchester, Warrington, Gateshead, Leeds, Sheffield, Milton Keynes, Reading, Southampton, Bristol and Exeter. The Coventry store did not reopen and will remain closed permanently.

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Play areas and restaurants will stay shut, but IKEA said its popular meatballs would be available in food courts to cook at home.

Cash is not being accepted, with all payments by card or contactless device only.