THE Bowes Museum is to due to reopen at 10am next month.

The trustees are pleased to announce that the musuem will be opening its doors on Saturday, August 1.

Visitors will be able to enjoy the hugely popular Norman Cornish: The Definitive Collection exhibition until January 17, 2021, Pre-Raphaelite Knights: Reinventing the Medieval World until the end of September and also blimey!Lucretia, with an exciting programme of workshops for families on offer throughout the summer holidays.

The health and well-being of visitors, staff and volunteers is the museum's priority and in line with the latest Government guidance on Covid-19, changes have been made in how the museum operates so that visitors will feel confident and safe and have a relaxing and enjoyable visit.

Visits must be booked via the website at www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk or by calling the museum on 01833 690606 to enable the museum to manage the number of people and allow for social distancing.

Visitors will have their tickets scanned on entry and there will be separate entrances and exits.

There will be hand sanitisation stations around the museum and gardens with reminders to respect social distancing. A deep clean of the museum has taken place and an enhanced regular cleaning regime is in place. The lifts are only to be used by households needing help to access the upper floors of the museum.

There is restricted access to areas, exhibitions or artefacts where social distancing cannot be maintained. So, the red Ceramics Gallery and Silver Swan performances have been affected, but there will be film of the Silver Swan on show in the Silver & Metals gallery.

The Bowes Museum shop and Café Bowes will be open with access to the café directly from the gardens on the right-hand side of the building. Ben Parnaby, the head chef, will be offering a delicious new menu, as well as takeaways, which can be eaten in the museum gardens.

Annual passes valid when the museum closed on Wednesday, March 18, have been extended by four months.

The director of The Bowes Museum, Adrian Jenkins, said: “We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported us by engaging with our virtual tours, blogs and social media, and by making generous donations both online and in the park. When you visit, you’ll notice a few changes.

"We are the museum you know and love with social distancing and enhanced safety precautions in place. We’re really looking forward to opening the doors and welcoming you back.”