August Bank Holiday supermarket opening times: What you need to know

August Bank Holiday supermarket opening times

Supermarkets across the UK have published their opening times for the August Bank Holiday, with most major chains operating reduced hours on Monday. The holiday, which falls on the final day of the month and the last day of summer this year, is the sixth of eight national holidays, as reported by The Independent.

Shoppers are being urged to check the details of their local stores before heading out, as opening times can vary by branch and location. Many retailers are operating reduced hours to give workers time off, according to The Sun.

Tesco

Tesco has confirmed all of its large stores will close by 6pm on the bank holiday, as reported by uk. The majority of Tesco supermarkets and large Express branches in England and Wales will be open from 8am to 6pm, while stores in Scotland and the Isle of Man will be open from 7am to 10pm, and Northern Ireland locations will stick to their regular opening times, according to The Sun.

A few of the retail chain's Express shops, mostly those in central London, will also close at 6pm, while others across the UK are expected to run as normal, uk reported. Tesco has advised customers to double-check when their nearest location will be open using the store locator, The Sun reported.

Aldi

Aldi stores across England and Wales will be open from 8am until 8pm on Bank Holiday Monday, while stores in Scotland and Northern Ireland will operate their usual opening hours, the Evening Chronicle reported. The bargain retailer revealed just over a week ago that stores in England and Wales will shut two hours earlier than usual, reducing trading times to 8am-8pm, The Sun reported.

Rachel Geary, communications director at Aldi UK, said: "Whether shoppers are stocking up for a barbecue, getting together with family and friends or picking up some last-minute essentials, we want to make their bank holiday shop as easy as possible. For anyone looking to beat the bank holiday rush, heading to stores first thing in the morning or later in the evening is likely to mean a quieter shop."

Data from last year's August bank holiday weekend shows that 8am to 9am and 7pm to 8pm were the quietest times to shop, the Evening Chronicle reported.

Asda

The majority of Asda stores will operate reduced hours on bank holiday Monday, with most open from 8am until 10pm, the Evening Chronicle reported. Asda Benton, Gosforth, Byker and Boldon will be open from 8am to 10pm, the same source said. Some express locations will continue to stay open for 24 hours or until their normal closing time, The Independent reported.

Lidl

Lidl stores in England outside the M25 and in Wales will have reduced opening hours on the bank holiday, between 8am and 8pm, while stores in London and across Scotland will remain open as usual, with most closing at around 10pm or later, uk reported. A Lidl spokesperson said: "Our store opening hours for the Summer Bank Holiday are as follows: All our stores in Scotland and those inside the M25 will remain open as normal. Most stores outside the M25 and in Wales will operate under slightly reduced hours of 08:00 – 20:00 (8am-8pm)."

Morrisons

Most of Morrisons' large stores in England and Wales will be open from 7am to 8pm on the bank holiday, while many smaller stores are expected to operate on regular hours, The Independent reported. The supermarket's Daily shops will remain open as normal, uk reported.

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's opening times will vary depending on the store, but most larger supermarkets are expected to open from 7am until 10pm on Monday, The Independent reported. However, uk reported that Sainsbury's larger shops, and the Argos branches within them, will close early, with most operating between 7 or 8am and 8pm. The Evening Chronicle reported that most Sainsbury's stores in England and Wales will open from 7am to 8pm, with convenience stores open from 7am to 11pm.

Co-op

Co-op has over 2,500 local stores across the UK, with smaller convenience shops typically maintaining regular trading hours of around 7am-10pm on bank holidays, while larger stores operate reduced hours from 8am-8pm, The Sun reported. Most Co-op stores will stay open from 7am to 10pm, however, some branches may have varying hours and stay open later, The Independent reported. uk reported that Co-op branches will open as normal, with stores shutting late and a few locations still operating for 24 hours.

Waitrose

Most Waitrose stores will be open from 8am to 6pm on the bank holiday, with smaller branches expected to stay open during their normal hours, The Independent reported. Waitrose is expected to close the majority of its large shops earlier, while its Little Waitrose stores will operate as normal, uk reported. The Evening Chronicle reported that the Ponteland store will open until 6pm, while the Jesmond store will open until 10pm.

M&S

M&S stores in England and Wales may operate reduced opening hours on bank holiday Monday, the Evening Chronicle reported. M&S stores will operate on reduced hours and will typically close between 6pm and 8pm, The Independent reported. Some larger branches will operate as normal, while others, including many M&S foodhalls, will close slightly earlier than usual, uk reported.

Regional variations

The August Bank Holiday marks the last three-day break until Christmas Day for Brits living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with only those in Scotland able to enjoy a bank holiday in November to celebrate St Andrew's Day, The Sun reported. Opening times can vary from store to store, so shoppers are encouraged to check their local store's hours before travelling.