Aylesbury venue reopens as lockdown restrictions ease
The Queens Park Art Centre is just one venue welcoming visitors
An Aylesbury venue is set to welcome visitors again as lockdown restrictions ease.
Queens Park Arts Centre is opening its doors today, along with countless other venues across Bucks, Beds and Herts as the next stage of the roadmap is reached.
January's National lockdown saw visitor venues like QPAC close but indoor entertainment centres reopen.
From today visitors to QPAC will be able to see their first new free-to-view exhibition since March 2020, illustrator Jess White's work.
When it comes to the live theatre offering available the centre expect to be one of the first to return to live shows with 'Funny Voices' on Friday May 21st.
Sarah, Artistic Director at the Queens Park Arts Centre, says the idea of shop local can be used for visitor attractions too:
"I think its really important that people support their local facilities.
"Aylesbury is blessed with many attractions and cultural venues so I very much hope they support those as they start venturing out.
"We have many measures and mitigations in place to make sure we offer a Covid safe venue.
"We have social distancing in place, windows and doors are kept open when possible for ventilation, hand sanitisers are placed around the venues everyone who comes in wears a mask...
"We are well versed in making sure people feel safe to come back to us."
Other venues opening today include Bucks County Museum, Odeon as well as Bucks National Trust properties through this week.
What can we do today?
17th May: Indoor mixing
From 17th May, two households or groups of up to six people can mix indoors. People will be allowed to stay overnight with people out with their household or bubble.
17th May: Indoor hospitality
Indoor hospitality including pubs and restaurants can reopen from 17th May.
17th May: Cinemas reopen
Cinemas will also reopen from 17th May, along with indoor soft play areas for children.
17th May: Foreign travel
Foreign travel is permitted from 17th May.
17th May: Hugs are allowed
Boris Johnson has confirmed that we can hug our loved ones from 17th May, but experts have urged that the public should remain vigilant and think carefully about who we hug.
17th May: Indoor exercise classes
From 17th May, indoor sport and exercise classes can resume.
17th May: Museums reopen
Indoor entertainment can open from Monday, including museums.
17th May: Larger events
Some larger events including concerts, theatre performances and sporting events will be allowed to resume from Monday, but restrictions on the numbers of attendees will remain in place.
17th May: No masks in secondary schools
Pupils in secondary schools and colleges will not need to wear masks in classrooms or communal spaces from Monday.
17th May: Universities return to in-person teaching
All University students can return to in-person teaching from Monday.
17th May: 30 guests can attend weddings
Up to 30 guests can now attend weddings, receptions and commemorative events like wakes.
17th May: Care home visitors increase
Care home residents can have 5 named visitors from Monday. Two visitors will be able to visit at once provided they have tested negative. Care home residents will also be able to leave care homes without having isolate on return.