D-Day Story in Southsea to reopen next week

The D-Day Story will open its doors once more to visitors on Tuesday, July 14.

It has been handed the We're Good to Go standard, which shows it is following government and public health guidance, has carried out a coronavirus risk assessment and has the necessary safety processes in place.

The city council's museum, on Southsea seafront, tells the story of the Allied invasion of occupied France in 1944 through the personal accounts of people who were there, using audio-visual presentations and iconic objects from its collection.

Councillor Steve Pitt, deputy leader of the council, said: ‘The D-Day Story is an internationally important museum and a massive part of our city's cultural landscape. I'm so glad it's been possible to open its doors again.

‘Hopefully it won't be too long before we can overcome the challenges involved in reopening other museums, which tell the story of Portsmouth and are so important for our identity as a city.’

Safety measures will include two-metre social distancing, hand-cleansing facilities at key points, and staggered entry at busy times.

The museum will take visitors’ contact details and store them temporarily, in case they are needed for coronavirus tracing.

It will be open daily, from 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 3.30pm. The car park and shop will be open.

The council is hoping to reopen Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery next month, with a free exhibition, Portsmouth Revisited II.

It is the second part of a permanent display about the history and character of the city and will show more than 100 paintings, prints, photos and sculptures.

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While museums are closed, a new online portal at portsmouthmuseums.co.uk offers a way to explore them from home. The website includes stories giving insights into items in the collections, and sections in which members of the museum teams show their favourite objects.

For more information on council-run museums and the latest updates, visitors can call 02392 826722.

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