VENUES closed for months can reopen today in the Government’s latest coronavirus lockdown easing – but several in Brighton are staying shut.

The Prime Minister has confirmed plans to open up more businesses this weekend, after the move was postponed earlier this month.

Indoor theatre, music and performance venues will be able to open with socially distanced audiences, but in Brighton, many theatres will remain closed.

The Dome is staying shut, and the Theatre Royal said performances are suspended until September 20.

Komedia in Gardner Street said it was unable to open at such short notice.

A spokesman for the venue said: “Given we had the same message three weeks ago and then were told with one day’s notice that we weren’t able to open, it still leaves a lot of uncertainty for both our customers and staff.”

It is now hosting its events at The Warren, a pop-up venue on the beach.

Casinos, bowling alleys, skating rinks and soft play centres will also be allowed to reopen today.

The ten-pin bowling alley Hollywood Bowl in Brighton Marina says it intends to re-open as soon as it is safe to do so.

“Close contact” beauty services such as facials, eyebrow threading and eyelash treatments will also resume. Beauty salons are delighted.

Clare Rogers, who owns The Treatment Rooms in Brighton, said: “We’re really happy. It’s such a relief.

“We’ve got facials, brow work and lash work back on the menu now. For salons like us, technical facials make up most of our revenue. It’s a relief for me and the therapists as well.”

Clare said she had been caught off guard by the news.

“I wasn’t expecting it,” she said. “It’s been very quiet in our industry in terms of guidance and quite a few of us thought the date would be put back again. I didn’t want to get excited.

“We’d prepared to reopen before and it’s just felt like such a release of emotion really after all the stress of the last few months.

“Now, we can start getting revenue in and build ourselves up and getting ready for the future.”

New guidance will mean staff offering “close contact” services, including hairdressers, will now have to wear a face mask as well as a clear visor.

The guidance also applies to businesses that operate remotely, such as massage therapists working in people’s homes, and those learning in vocational training environments.

Also from today, the trialling of spectators at sporting events will resume, wedding receptions for up to 30 guests will be permitted and trials will take place at conference venues ahead of the expected resumption of business events from October 1 at the earliest.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister warned: “At every stage I have said our plan to reopen society and the economy is conditional and that it relies on continued progress against the virus.

“Today, we are able to announce some further changes which will allow more people to return to work and the public to get back to more of the things they have missed.

“However, as I have always said, we will not hesitate to put on the brakes if required, or to continue to implement local measures to help to control the spread of the virus.”