Major supermarkets across the UK will close for 24 hours this weekend to give staff a break, according to multiple reports. Popular brands such as Tesco, Waitrose, and Aldi are among those that will close the majority of their stores. Shops will close on Easter Sunday, April 5, with some supermarkets operating reduced hours on Good Friday, Saturday, and Easter Monday.
Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994, all shops over 280 square metres in size are legally obliged to close on Easter Sunday in England and Wales. Smaller stores, as well as airport and railway station outlets, service stations, and registered pharmacies can remain open on Easter Sunday. There are no trading hours restrictions in Scotland on Easter Sunday, meaning shops can operate under usual Sunday trading hours.
Some supermarkets are advising shoppers to avoid busier times this weekend, with the quietest time to shop being between 8am and 9am over the Easter weekend. The second quietest period will be between 7pm and 10pm, when customers also benefit from more discounts, with some products reduced by up to 75% at supermarkets such as Aldi near the end of the day, according to reports. Tesco will close most large stores on Easter Sunday, while reduced hours will apply across the bank holiday weekend.
On Good Friday, April 3, Tesco large stores will open from 6am until 10pm. Waitrose will shut most of its branches on Easter Sunday, with 65 Little Waitrose stores remaining open and 356 other branches shutting. All Waitrose stores will remain open on Good Friday and Easter Monday, but may have reduced hours.
All Aldi stores will be closed on Easter Sunday. Aldi will remain open between 8am and 9pm on Good Friday and Saturday, April 4. Lidl will be closing its UK stores for 24 hours in April and operating on reduced hours over the Easter weekend.
On Easter Monday, April 6, Lidl stores will be open from 9am until 9pm, rather than the usual 8am until 10pm.