Sunday trading

Sunday trading and shop opening hours

Since the introduction of the Sunday Trading Act 1994, there have been no statutory restrictions on shop opening hours from Monday to Saturday.

Shop owners are free to set their hours according to customer demand.

Sunday trading: large shops

Under the Act, a large shop is defined as one with an internal sales area greater than 280m² meaning, the part of the premises used for displaying goods and serving customers.

Large shops must follow the following rules:

• Closed on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.
• May open on other Sundays for up to six consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm.
• Must clearly display Sunday trading hours both inside and outside the premises.

Exemptions for large shops

Certain large shops are exempt from these restrictions, including:

• airport and railway station outlets
• service station outlets
• registered pharmacies selling only medicinal products and medical and surgical appliances
• farms selling mainly their own produce
• outlets wholly or mainly selling motor or bicycle supplies and accessories
• suppliers of goods to aircraft or sea-going vessels on arrival at, or departure from, a port, harbour or airport
• exhibition stands selling goods

Small shops

Shops with a sales area of 280m² or less are not subject to Sunday trading restrictions and may open freely, including on Sundays.

Shop workers’ rights

The Sunday Trading Act 1994 includes specific provisions to protect shop workers who do not wish to work on Sundays.

General opening hours

Apart from the restrictions outlined above, shop opening hours are determined by individual owners based on business needs and customer demand.

This page was last updated on 8 December 2025