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The Swedish furniture giant will open its doors at Holywood Exchange in Belfast in tandem with other non-essential shops throughout NI.

Last year shoppers keen to update their homes queued outside the store. And who knows what will happen this time?

If you are planning another trip the opening hours are - Monday – Saturday: 10am - 8pm - Sunday: 1pm - 6pm

IKEA is implementing a number of measures to keep co-workers and colleagues safe, including Social Distance Wardens who will be on hand throughout the store to help customers find their way around the new one-way system, and ensure social distancing measures are being followed.

Before you go be aware that a number of restrictions are in place to ensure staff and customers are kept safe including - enhanced social distance guidance and signage throughout

- a staggered entry system and limited numbers of customers granted entry in store at any one time.

- social distance wardens to help customers and ensure everyone is following social distancing measures.

- face coverings for co-workers and customers

- screens at key areas such as checkouts, service points and customer returns, to enable social distancing

- cashless payments, by card and contactless, preferred

- all play areas and the customer restaurant to remain closed.

According to the IKEA site, Peter Jelkeby, UK&IE Country Retail Manager and CSO, said “We’ve always believed that home is the most important place in the world. Over the past year, we’ve placed more demands on our homes than ever before, needing them to be spaces where we can live, work and play; fulfilling both our physical and emotional needs.

“Knowing that some of these shifts in our lifestyles, such as working from home, will become increasingly permanent over the coming years, our homes will need to become even more versatile and adaptable. As such we’re really looking forward to welcoming customers safely back into our stores, inspiring people to live a better and more sustainable everyday through our range of affordable home furnishings.”

SEE - Primark offering extended opening hours in NI to keep customers safe | dedicated employee marshals to help manage customer queues outside stores | find out local opening hours here

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This is when IKEA reopens its doors to shoppers in Northern Ireland - and its opening hours