What's reopening on April 30th across Northern Ireland?

Friday 30th 2021 is going to go down in history 🎉

Author: Emma DicksonPublished 26th Apr 2021

We've had a taste over the weekend of what life used to be like, with hairdressers, barbers and outdoor attractions reopening last Friday.

It's all anyone can talk about right now, with some big topical debates going on, like where are we going for our first pint, and what time does Primark open?

As Northern Ireland's vaccination program continues to soar, with vaccination slots for 35-39 years now available from today, more relaxations will ease this Friday.

Not to worry, we've broken down the latest lockdown relaxations for you.

From Friday 30th April

🍽Outdoor dining is allowed

🍻Outdoor bars/beer gardens can reopen

🛍All non-essential retail will resume

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Up to 15 people from three households can meet outdoors

🏋️Gyms reopen

🏊‍♀️Swimming pools may return

🚎Self-contained tourist accommodation is allowed

🍾Curfew on takeaway and off-licences will be removed

What time will Primark open?

Who could forget the time Primark in Belfast's Abbeycentre stayed open for 33 hours straight 🤯

Don't get too excited, sadly that won't be happening this time round.

But for the first week initially, all stores will open at 8am (excluding Sunday), with some stores choosing to stay open later.

Omagh, Derry/Londonderry, Newry, Ballymena, Newtownards, Lisburn, Newtownabbey and Donegall Place will all remain open until 9pm this Friday.

There will be a continued strict social distancing protocol, limits on the number of customers allowed in store, face coverings, hand sanitisation stations at entrances, Perspex screens at the tills and increased in-store cleaning.

Other reopening dates you need to pop into your diary:

Hairdressers and beauty salons can reopen

From 23rd April, personal care premises including hairdressers and beauty and nail salons will be permitted to reopen

Outdoor attractions will reopen

Outdoor attractions including zoos, theme parks and outdoor cinemas can reopen from 23rd April

Driving lessons will resume

From 23rd April driving lessons will be allowed to resume, as will theory tests, motorcycle lessons, lorry lessons and tests, car and trailer tests and minibus lessons and tests.

Outdoor sport will return

Outdoor competitive sport will be allowed with numbers not exceeding 100, however spectators are not permitted

Non-essential retail will resume

Non-essential retail can resume from 30th April

Self-contained tourist accommodation

Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets where indoor facilities are not shared with other households can also reopen from 30th April

Outdoor hospitality resumes

Licensed and unlicensed premises can serve customers in outdoors settings in groups of six from no more than two householders.

Takeaways and off licences will remain open

Removal of curfews on takeaways and off licenses

Gyms reopen

Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms can reopen from 10th May

Outdoor gatherings increased to 15

Limit on outdoor gatherings in domestic gardens increased to 15 people from no more than three households

Hospitality services can operate indoors

Licensed and unlicensed premises can operate indoors.

Indoor visitor attractions reopen


Small wedding receptions allowed

Weddings and funeral events with up to 30 people may be allowed from May 14th

Indoor dining and drinking

Indoor dining and drinking is expected not get the green light before 1st June

Read more:

Belfast beer gardens we can’t wait to visit April 30th 

Vaccination slots to open for 35-39 year olds

Northern Ireland’s Street Food Revolution

How to listen to Downtown Country:

Tune into Northern Ireland’s number 1 for Country music, Downtown Country on online, on the Rayo app, your DAB radio, or say ‘Play Downtown Country’ on your Smart Speaker. We play you the best Irish and American country music, from Victoria Quinn in the morning, to Big T’s legendary evening Country show.