West Yorkshire businesses say they're both 'excited and daunted' about re-opening
From today indoor hospitality and entertainment venues like cinemas and children's play areas can open
Businesses in West Yorkshire are re-opening their doors today (17th May), but they say they want to do all they can, to avoid going back into lockdowns and closing again.
Today is the next step in the roadmap, which means indoor hospitality and entertainment venues like cinemas and children's play areas can open and there's no longer restrictions on foreign holidays.
"Health and safety is just so important and we don't want to go back into lockdown, back into closing."
Wendy Cook, the head of cinema for Leeds Heritage Theatres said:
"We need to make sure we are providing the best experience for our audience, but do it whilst we keep covid at the front of our mind. Health and safety is just so important and we don't want to go back into lockdown, back into closing.
"We have social distancing, masks, temperature checks, sanitising stations, but I also want to see lots of big smiles coming through, under masks!"
Well, from today they'll be lots for people to do from the theatre, to a pub meal indoors and even a trip to the museum.
We spoke to people in Bradford to see what they were looking forward to most:
"Sunday lunch! I want to go to the pub for Sunday lunch, not to get drunk, to just sit down and enjoy a meal!"
"Go to the cinema."
"A nice pub meal, just to sit down, instead of having to sit outside."
"Sit inside nice and warm, with my friends, nice and warm, it'll be something different from the last 2 to 3 months."
"We need generations who are informed about medicine and health, who are inspired to be the next generation of health heroes."
For one business in particular this re-opening has been very long waited.
The Thackray Museum in Leeds closed two years ago for a £4 million refit, but had to stay shut because of coronavirus restricitions.
Nat Edwards the chief executive said:
"Actually what we do is vitally important, because we need generations who are informed about medicine and health, who are inspired to be the next generation of health heroes, who can help us take on the next challenge, the next covid, the next pandemic!"