Here’s everything you need to know about when supermarkets are open and closed on the late May bank holiday next week on Monday, May 26
The last bank holiday in May is nearly upon us and as always, supermarket chains will be adjusting their hours slightly. The late May bank holiday – which this year falls on May 26 – is known as the Spring bank holiday.
Bank holidays give a large number of Brits a three-day weekend, and many want to celebrate the extra time off when they have it. While many will be well prepared for the long weekend, it’s useful to know about any changes to store opening times in case a last-minute supermarket dash is needed.
Here’s everything you need to know about the opening and closing times of major supermarkets this bank holiday weekend.
Tesco
Tesco stores will operate as usual over the bank holiday weekend, with altered opening hours only on the bank holiday
On Saturday, May 24, stores will open at either 6am or 7am, and close as late as midnight. On Sunday, most larger stores are open from 10am or 11am, until 4pm or 5pm. Stores in Scotland will be open for much longer, as trading rules differ there.
On May, 26, the larger Tesco stores in England and Wales will open around 8am and close at 6pm. In Scotland, most will close a bit later at 8pm. Tesco’s convenience stores will maintain normal opening hours throughout the weekend.
Sainsbury’s
Over the bank holiday weekend, Sainsbury’s stores will maintain their usual operating hours. On Saturday, Sainsbury’s superstores will open their doors between 6am and 7am and shut between 10pm and 11pm. On Sunday, larger outlets will welcome customers from 10am to 4pm or 11am to 5pm.
Sainsbury’s convenience stores typically operate from 6am or 7am until 10pm or 11pm – even on Sundays – and this will be the same over the weekend, including Monday. On the bank holiday Monday, Sainsbury’s larger stores will be open from 8am until 8pm. Scottish opening hours will remain the same over the weekend.
Morrisons
Morrisons branches will stick to their regular hours on Saturday and Sunday. This means shops will open at either 6am or 7am and close between 10pm and midnight. On Sunday, stores will welcome shoppers at either 10am and 11am and close between 4pm and 5pm.
On the bank holiday Monday, larger Morrisons stores will open at 7am and will close earlier, with most stores shutting their doors at 8pm. Morrisons Daily stores will be open from 7am until 10pm all weekend, including the bank holiday Monday – although some may extend their hours until 11pm.
Asda
In line with other supermarkets, Asda’s opening times will remain unchanged over the weekend and will only change on Monday, May 26. On Saturday, larger Asda branches will start open between 6am and 7am and close as late as midnight.
On Sunday, larger Asda branches will be open for a six-hour window, either from 10am or 11am until 4pm or 5pm. The chain’s smaller convenience stores, Asda Express, are usually open 24 hours every day – even on Sundays.
On the bank holiday Monday, Asda outlets will kick off trading slightly later than usual, with doors opening between 7am and 8am and will at 10pm. Scottish Asda branches will stick to their regular hours over the weekend.
Aldi
For the bank holiday Monday, Aldi stores will be wrapping up business a bit earlier than usual. Instead of the typical 10pm closing time, most Aldi shops will be pulling down the shutters at 8pm. However, Scottish branches are an exception, keeping their regular 8am to 10pm shopping hours.
Aldi’s operating hours will remain unchanged on Saturday, and Sunday. Aldi stores usually welcome shoppers between 8am and 10pm across England, Wales, and Scotland. On Sundays, Aldi’s English and Welsh stores are generally open from 10am until 4pm, or 11am until 5pm, while in Scotland they’re open from 9am until 8pm.
Lidl
On bank holiday Monday, Lidl branches opening times will vary with some stores opening a little later at 8am rather than 7am. Stores appear to be closing at the same time of 10pm. Lidl stores will open at 7am and shut at 10pm on Saturday. Like other supermarkets, Lidl will only open for six hours on Sunday, either from 10am or 11am to 4pm or 5pm. It’s worth noting that Lidl usually opens 30 minutes earlier on Sundays for browsing only.
Waitrose
The opening hours of Waitrose vary significantly from store to store. Some branches open as early as 7am while others don’t open until 9am. Closing times also differ, with some stores closing as early as 5pm and others as late as 10pm. During bank holidays, some Waitrose stores operate under reduced hours and close an hour or two earlier. You can locate your nearest Waitrose using the supermarket’s locator tool.
M&S
On bank holidays, M&S stores typically open under normal hours but close an hour or two earlier, depending on the location. You can find your nearest MandS store using the retailer’s locator tool.
The majority of stores opened between 8am and 9am on Saturday over the bank holiday weekend. On Sunday, both M&S food halls and stores in England and Wales seemed to trade for only six hours, with opening times between 10am and 11am and closing times between 4pm and 5pm.