Licence - Sunday trading
The Sunday Trading Act 1994
The Sunday Trading
Act 1994 regulates the Sunday opening hours of large shops and
prohibits them from opening on Easter Sunday.
Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994, the restrictions on shop
opening hours are:
- Small shops (up to 280sq m/3,000 sq ft) - no restrictions on
opening hours
- Large shops (over 280 sq m/3,000 sq ft)
Monday to Saturday - no restrictions
Sunday - can only open for 6 continual hours between 10am and
6pm. Easter Sunday - closed.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- Do shops need to notify local authorities of their
Sunday opening hours?
A regulatory Reform Order came
into force on 27 February 2004, removing the requirement for large
shops in England and Wales to give prior written notification to
their local authority of their Sunday opening hours.
- What goods can be sold on a Sunday?
The
Sunday Trading Act 1994 regulates shop opening hours. It does not
regulate the sale of particular goods.
- How does the Sunday Trading Act affect street markets
and car boot sales?
The Sunday Trading Act 1994 regulates shop opening hours. It does
not regulate
street markets or car boot sales (external link). These
are subject to separate local planning legislation.
- Why are large garden centres not able to open on Easter
Sunday?
This was considered by Parliament in 1994
during the passage of the Sunday Trading Bill. An amendment
proposing that large garden centres should be exempt from closing
on Easter Sunday was defeated on a free vote in both Houses.
- Are shops allowed to open on Christmas
Day?
The Christmas Day
(Trading) Act 2004 (external link) came into force on
9 December 2004, prohibiting large shops (over 280 sq m/3,000 sq
ft) from opening on Christmas Day.
- What is the special protection for Sunday working in
shops?
Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, in
England and Wales, shop workers (other than those employed to work
solely on Sundays) have the right to opt out of working on
Sundays.
- What large shops are exempt from the
restrictions?
Under the Sunday
Trading Act 1994 (external link), the following types of
shop are exempt:
- Any shop at a designated airport, in a railway station, at a
highway service area or at any petrol filling station
- Any shop where the trade or business carried on consists wholly
or mainly of the sale of alcohol/motor or cycle supplies and
accessories
- Registered pharmacies which are not open for the retail sale of
any goods other than medical and surgical goods
- Farm shops where the trade consists wholly, or mainly, of the
sale of produce (crops or reared animals) from that farm.