Harrods ready to reopen its doors as soon as safe to do so

The boss of Harrods on Monday said the London department store is “poised and ready” to reopen and cheered news it may soon be allowed to do so.

Boris Johnson last night said some stores will be permitted to open again in June. Non-essential retailers were ordered to shut in March as part of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Harrods managing director Michael Ward said: “We are working towards a phased re-opening strategy and are poised and ready to open our Knightsbridge operation as soon as it is safe for us to do so.”

He added: "Our focus is on opening our doors to customers again and supporting the British and local London economy get back on its feet."

Ward said that Johnson’s statement was a “positive step” but “public and consumer confidence that we have the right strategy in place to beat this pandemic — and that we are making progress in this fight — is what will support British businesses the most”.

The New West End Company, which represents businesses around Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street, said it had been working with the police and authorities to ready businesses for when restrictions are lifted.