Hairdressers 

Bad hair days are set to become a thing of the past for those living in England. Following months of lockdown, large parts of the country will be opening up, with hairdressers being one of the businesses allowed to resume operations.

Despite this, a trip to the salon will look very different as social distancing and new hygiene measures are put in place.

To deal with the demand from those who have gone months without a haircut, salons are likely to expand their opening hours. The aforementioned social distancing measures means there will be fewer people in the salons at one time, forcing owners to increase working hours to meet demand. 

Upon arrival, new restrictions mean customers won't be able to flick through a magazine or enjoy a cup of coffee. At the same time, hairdressers are required to wear personal protective gear, including face shields, gloves and aprons on at all times. In most salons, customers will also be expected to wear a face covering.

One member of staff will be assigned to each customer for the whole time they are in the salon. Pre-pandemic, one hairdresser might wash your hair, and another cut it - the aim now is to have minimal interaction with the client, to avoid any cross-contamination.

As some elements of UK policy are devolved, the policy change is only being introduced in England - hairdressers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will open at a later date.

Pubs 

Thousands of pubs across England are preparing to reopen their doors on 4 July, as the country marks the most significant easing of its coronavirus lockdown measures.

Since March, around 47,000 bars across the UK have shut their doors. In Northern Ireland, many are opening on Friday, while Scotland and Wales will be allowing establishments to begin trading next week.

For many owners, the past few months have been incredibly challenging.

"I don't think we've ever been as quiet, we've had four months of closure, which is quite incredible," said Gary Murphy, proprietor of Ye Olde Mitre Inn in North London.

The public house, known as the pub for short, was first established in 1636, but has faced few challenges like the coronavirus.

"Generally, we've got a nervous customer base, we need to build up their confidence, so it's going to be a long challenge, we're not out of the woods yet, and I think that's very important to say."

Pubs will only be allowed to reopen with strict conditions such as limiting customer numbers, regular sanitization of premises and even collecting customer details to try and help trace people in case of infections.

All of that means the British pub experience will look very different.

And the pandemic has worsened financial difficulties for many businesses in an industry that's faced severe challenges in recent years. The British Beer and Pub Association has warned that thousands of pubs will have to shut their doors if the damage from COVID-19 continues.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged people to remain cautious and follow social distancing rules. "My message is: let's not blow it now, folks. We've done a fantastic job so far in bearing down on this disease, collectively. Let's not blow it now."

For Ye Olde Mitre Inn, almost 400 years after it first swung open its doors, the team is now busy with the final touches towards becoming 'COVID-secure.' 

"We're really excited," said Murphy, "hopefully the customers come back."

Video editor: James Sandifer