Tesco, Waitrose and Aldi to close UK stores for 24 hours this weekend | UK | News
Tesco is among the supermarkets that will close stores (Image: Getty)
Major supermarkets across the UK will close for 24 hours this weekend to give staff a well-deserved break. Popular brands such as Tesco, Waitrose and Aldi are among those that will close the majority of their stores.
Bosses have confirmed that shops will close on Easter Sunday (April 5) while some supermarkets operate reduced hours on Good Friday (April 3), Saturday and Easter Monday (April 6). Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994, all shops over 280 square metres in size are legally obliged to close on Easter Sunday. However, smaller stores, as well as airport and railway station outlets, service stations and registered pharmacies can remain open.
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Some supermarkets are advising shoppers to avoid busier times this weekend. They say the quietest time to shop will be between 8am and 9am over the Easter weekend.
Meanwhile, the second quietest period will be between 7pm and 10pm, when customers also benefit from more discounts. Some products are reduced by up to 75% at supermarkets such as Aldi near the end of the day.
Tesco
Tesco will close most large stores on Easter Sunday (Image: Getty)
Tesco has confirmed it will close most large stores on Easter Sunday, while reduced hours will apply across the bank holiday weekend.
On Easter Sunday, all 809 large stores, including Tesco Extra and Superstores, will shut. Meanwhile, most of the Tesco Express stores will remain open.
On Good Friday (April 3), large stores will open from 6am until 10pm. Then, on Easter Monday (April 6), large stores will open from 8am until 6pm.
Waitrose
Waitrose will close 356 branches (Image: Getty)
Waitrose will shut most of its branches on Easter Sunday. The branch confirmed its 65 Little Waitrose stores will remain open while the 356 other branches will shut.
However, all Waitrose stores, which are part of the John Lewis Partnership, will remain open on Good Friday and Easter Monday. They may be open with reduced hours, so shoppers are advised to check times on the supermarket’s website.
A John Lewis Partnership spokesperson said: “All Waitrose branches will be open on Good Friday and Easter Monday but some may open on reduced hours.
“On Easter Sunday, the majority of our branches will be closed with a select number of Little Waitrose stores open. We advise that customers check times of individual shops by using the branch finder page on our website.”
Aldi
Aldi will shut all stores on Sunday (Image: Getty)
It has been confirmed that all Aldi stores will be closed on Easter Sunday. Meanwhile, the UK’s fourth-largest supermarket will remain open between 8am and 9pm on Good Friday and Saturday, April 4.
Rachel Geary, communications director at Aldi UK, said: “Easter is a time for celebration and coming together with family and friends to enjoy great food – whether that’s a traditional British roast with all the trimmings or firing up the BBQ, if the spring weather allows.
“At Aldi, we’ve made it easy for shoppers to pick up everything they need for the occasion at unbeatable value, so they can focus on what really matters – spending quality time with loved ones.”
