Marks & Spencer has said it will reopen 49 of its cafes across the country from Thursday.

The high street retailer said it had taken the decision to reopen the sites to takeaway customers after operating social distancing and extra hygiene measures in its stores.

Here's what you need to know.

What will the cafes serve?

M&S said the cafes would be opening for takeaway hot drinks only and the sites selected were all cafes located next to M&S Foodhall stores which have remained open through the lockdown.

M&S said its reopening plan came after a trial at five locations including its High Street Kensington and Maybrook Canterbury sites.

Which cafes will reopen?

The 49 sites chosen to reopen span across the UK, and include locations in Belfast, Cramlington and Cheshunt.

Here's the full list of sites:

  • Anlaby
  • Ashbourne
  • Bankside (Marketplace)
  • Beverley
  • Bishop Auckland
  • Blackrock
  • Bluewater
  • Boucher Rd Belfast
  • Braehead
  • Braintree
  • Brent Cross (Marketplace)
  • Bridge of Don
  • Canary Wharf (Marketplace)
  • Central Falkirk
  • Cheshunt
  • Clapham (Coffee Bar)
  • Congleton
  • Cramlington
  • Dunblane
  • Finsbury (Marketplace)
  • Handforth Dean Conservatory
  • Heathfield Ayr
  • Hedge End (Coffee Bar)
  • High St. Kensington (Coffee Bar)
  • Inveralmond
  • Kingston (Marketplace)
  • Kingstown Park, Carlisle
  • Manchester (Coffee Bar)
  • Marble Arch (Marketplace)
  • Martlesham Heath
  • Maybrook Canterbury
  • Mayflower
  • Meadowhall
  • Meole Brace Shrewsbury
  • Northallerton
  • One New Change (Marketplace)
  • Pantheon (Marketplace)
  • Pontarddulais
  • Portfield Chichester
  • Sears Solihull
  • Stratford (Marketplace)
  • Summertown
  • Sweetbriar Norwich
  • Victoria Cardinal Place (Marketplace)
  • Waterside (Marketplace)
  • Westbridge Park Stone
  • Whitstable
  • Woodley

What new safety measures have been introduced?

It said the company had prepared “rigorous guidance for colleagues and will have extensive signage for customers so they can pick up their coffee safely”.

Safety measures had been introduced, including plastic screens at each cafe till.

Employees had also been asked to wash their hands every 30 minutes as a minimum, with surfaces sanitised regularly.

Only one staff member would work behind a counter at a time to ensure social distancing, while it was also introducing contactless collection and customers would be encouraged to use contactless payment.

Other cafe chains reopen

The announcement comes as cafe chains, such as Pret A Manger and Caffe Nero, reopen sites for takeaway customers.