Easter Sunday supermarkets and retailers open and closed as legislation differs

Guidelines are in place

A shopping cart filled with food shopping in a fresh section with refrigerated shelves closed by doors to avoid energy loss in a

Supermarkets might be principally closed (Picture: NICOLAS GUYONNET, Hans Lucas/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)

Anybody planning on doing their traditional Sunday huge store tomorrow could effectively discover themselves confronted with an issue. That is as a result of tomorrow is Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, and it is one among simply two days a 12 months when supermarkets are closed.

Normally, such retailers can open for six hours on a Sunday, however buying and selling legal guidelines in England and Wales differ for Easter Sunday and Christmas Day and shops over a sure measurement can not open. Scotland does not have the identical restrictions and Northern Eire operates beneath totally different guidelines, though bigger shops should nonetheless shut on Easter Sunday.

In England and Wales, smaller retailers are free to commerce at any hour. These are retailers as much as and together with 280sqm.

Nevertheless, any store over 280sqm – which suggests the overwhelming majority of supermarkets – should shut on each Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, gov.uk explains. They’re additionally restricted to opening for a most of six consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm on regular Sundays.

Bodycare is closing another 30 shops

Legal guidelines are totally different on Easter Sunday (Picture: PA)

Exemptions to Easter Sunday closures

Retailers exempt from the Sunday buying and selling restrictions for big retailers embody:

Massive retailers that open once they’re not speculated to will be fined. Employees in any store that opens on a traditional Sunday could have particular employment rights.

We use your sign-up to supply content material in methods you have consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This may occasionally embody adverts from us and third events based mostly on our understanding. You’ll be able to unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage

There isn’t a automated proper for staff to have public holidays off, together with Christmas Day and Easter Sunday, except it is of their contract. Further pay for working public holidays is non-compulsory, except it’s acknowledged in an worker’s contract.