Retailers in Fife shopping centres are opening their doors

Shops within Fife's shopping centres are able to open their doors to customers again from today (Monday).

As the Scottish Government continues to ease its lockdown restrictions, those retailers who trade from within shopping malls can now re-open.

Although some non-essential retailers were able to open from June 29, it was only those with access off a street that were permitted to welcome people back and not those within enclosed centres.

The latest changes mean now that all non-essential retailers can trade.

Stores in Kirkcaldy’s Mercat Shopping Centre and the Kingdom Centre in Glenrothes are among those re-opening today or making plans for opening again later in the week.

In a statement on social media, LaSalle Investment Management, owners of both centres, urged shoppers to be considerate to help ensure everyone’s safety.

It said: “As we welcome you all back to the centre we ask that you shop safely, respectfully and keep your distance.

"Please follow any instruction given with kindness and patience so everyone can have an enjoyable shopping experience. Thank you.”

New safety measures have been put in place throughout the shopping malls as well as in individual stores. Shoppers are also reminded that face coverings are now mandatory in all shops in Scotland.

The statement added: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank our shoppers, employees and the public for their continued support and understanding over the past few months as the centre has had limited retailers and facilities available.”

Stores currently open in The Mercat include Bodycare, Boots, EE, Greggs, Home Bargains, JD Sports, Poundland, Superdrug, Vision Express and Vodafone.

While in Glenrothes, those stores opening from today include BB’s, Cafe Aroma, CEX, Hays Travel, M&Co, New Look, Ryman, Sports Direct, The Works, Trespass, VIP, Watch Repair Centre and Your Clothing.

They join many which are already open including Boots, Bridge Cafe, Poundland, Iceland, Superdrug, Harvey Willis, Home Bargains, Home Diys, Baynes, Savers, Blairs, Fife Butchers, Farmfoods, One Below, Paddypower, Post Office, WH Smith, Nationwide, Kingdom Comm Bank, Bank of Scotland, TSB, Specsavers, RS McCall, Centre Barks, Holland & Barrett, Timpsons, Sally Beauty, Greggs, Rach Optometrists, Ramsden’s, Boots Opticians, Costa and Jessop Jewellers.

Abraxas Hair and Subway are both due to reopen from Wednesday, July 15.

Customers are advised to check online for the current opening hours for all stores as these may vary.

All of the car parks at the Kingdom Centre will be open, however not all entrances to the centre will be.

Those that are open are: Postgate (bus station), Kintyre (bowling alley), Falkland Gate (Iceland), Unicorn (church), Carrick (bingo) and Marchmont Gate (Rothes Halls).

Toilet facilities in both the Mercat and the Kingdom Centre remain closed as centre management say the safe distancing and cleanliness regime required for them to be a safe environment for shoppers is “currently not feasible, however access will be made available for those in crisis”.