SUPERMARKETS including Tesco, Asda and Aldi will be changing their hours this Easter weekend – here’s what you need to know.
Most stores have already adjusted their hours to help staff restock stripped shelves due to the coronavirus crisis.
Some stores also have dedicated hours for NHS staff and vulnerable customers.
It’s worth noting that Brits are being asked to only visit their supermarket if they absolutely need to.
If you're self-isolating and can't leave your home, you can try and get your shopping delivered or ask a friend or family member to shop for you.
Opening times can vary from shop to shop, so it's always important to check your favourite supermarket’s online store finder tool to see the most up-to-date hours.
Aldi
Most Aldi stores currently open 8am to 8pm and they’ll have these hours in place over most of the Easter weekend.
Stores will be shut on Easter Sunday, apart from in Scotland where they’ll open 9am to 8pm.
Aldi also opens half an hour early for vulnerable and elderly customers Monday to Saturday.
This dedicated shopping time is expected to be in place over the Easter weekend.
Good Friday: 8am to 8pm
Easter Saturday: 8am to 8pm
Easter Sunday: Closed (9am to 8pm in Scotland)
Easter Monday: 8am to 8pm
What about delivery? Sadly, Aldi doesn't offer a delivery service on its food products.
You can buy Specialbuy items online but these won't be delivered over Easter weekend.
Aldi has around 874 stores in the UK – use the online store finder to double-check the opening hours of your nearest shop.
Asda
Asda store opening times vary from 6am to 8am, although most branches have reduced opening hours to help staff keep shelves stocked during the lockdown.
Many stores now close at 8pm instead of 10pm as normal Monday to Saturday, and 5pm on Sundays.
Asda has also temporarily closed its 24 hour stores between 12am and 6am for restocking.
Unfortunately the supermarket hasn't revealed details of its Easter hours, but we'll update this article it has.
The best thing shoppers can do until we know more is contact their nearest store by using the locator tool.
Asda is prioritising NHS workers and care workers in larger stores every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am to 9am.
We're checking if these priority hours will be in place over Easter.
What about delivery? Asda has been inundated with online orders and we couldn't find any delivery slots when we looked today.
There are over 600 Asda supermarkets across the UK.
Iceland
Iceland opening hours vary between stores, but most branches are open either 8am to 6pm, or 9am to 7pm.
Iceland is allowing only NHS staff to shop for the final hour of trade. NHS staff need to bring their ID to the shop.
The supermarket says this dedicated hour will be in place over the Easter weekend.
Good Friday: Normal hours
Easter Saturday: Normal hours
Easter Sunday: Closed, apart from in Scotland
Easter Monday: Normal hours
What about delivery? At the moment there are no slots available, but Iceland says it is opening up new ones each day to cope with the demand.
Iceland has 960 stores in the UK.
Check the Iceland online store finder to see the most up-to-date opening hours.
Lidl
Opening hours at most Lidl shops have remained unchanged in spite of the coronavirus crisis.
Typical hours for Lidl shops are usually 8am until 10pm, but these are being reduced for some shops over Easter.
Lidl stores will be shut on Easter Sunday but customers will still be able to shop over the rest of the Easter weekend.
The only exception is in Scotland, where stores will be open as normal across the entire weekend.
Lidl is yet to announce any dedicated hours for NHS workers.
Good Friday: 8am to 8pm
Easter Saturday: 8am to 10pm
Easter Sunday: Closed (apart from in Scotland)
Easter Monday: 8am to 8pm
What about delivery? Lidl doesn't currently do home deliveries.
Lidl has 760 stores in the UK – check the online shop finder for the latest hours.
M&S
M&S stores typically open at 7am or 8am, and close at 8pm or 9pm, Monday to Saturday.
Sunday hours vary between stores but most branch's open at either 9am, 10am or 11am, and shut at 4pm or 5pm.
The good news for shoppers is most M&S stores will be open for the majority of the Easter weekend.
Shops will be shut on Easter Sunday.
Check the M&S online store finder to see the exact opening times of your nearest shop.
M&S is reserving the first hour of opening in every store for NHS workers, every Tuesday and Friday.
The supermarket hasn't said if this will still happen over Easter.
Good Friday: Normal hours
Easter Saturday: Normal hours
Easter Sunday: Closed
Easter Monday: Normal hours
What about delivery? M&S is yet to launch a grocery delivery service and its made-to-order food deliveries have been temporarily suspended.
M&S has around 959 shops in the UK.
Morrisons
Morrisons' core opening hours are typically 8am to 8pm for most of its stores, although some may vary.
The grocer will be sticking to these hours over the Easter weekend, apart from Easter Sunday when shops will be shut.
In addition, it has introduced a dedicated hour, running 7am to 8am, for NHS workers to shop every Monday to Saturday.
We've asked Morrisons if this shopping hour will still happen over Easter Sunday and we'll update this article when we know more.
Good Friday: 8am to 8pm
Easter Saturday: 8am to 8pm
Easter Sunday: Closed
Easter Monday: 8am to 8pm
What about delivery? Morrisons had sold out of delivery slots for Easter weekend when we checked today.
Morrisons has almost 500 stores in the UK – use the online finder tool to find the most up-to-date opening times.
Tesco
Tesco is keeping its doors open on Friday, Saturday and Monday – but shops will be shut on Easter Sunday, apart from in Scotland.
Opening hours at Tesco will depend on the type of store you're visiting, so make sure you double-check your nearest branch's hours before making the journey.
Typically, larger Tesco stores open between 6am and 8pm, and shut at 10pm Monday to Saturday, while its smaller Express branches are open 7am to 10pm.
In addition, Tesco stores are prioritising the first hour of trade every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday for NHS workers.
Good Friday: 8am to 8pm (Tesco Extra, Metro and Superstores)
Easter Saturday: 6am to 10pm (Tesco Extra, Metro and Superstores)
Easter Sunday: Closed, apart from Scotland
Easter Monday: 8am to 6pm (Tesco Extra, Metro and Superstores)
What about delivery? Unfortunately Tesco had sold out of delivery slots when we looked online.
The supermarket releases new slots at midnight so it might be worth checking back then.
Tesco has 3,400 shops in the UK – keep up to date with the supermarket's opening hours by using the online store finder.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury's is keeping some stores open on Easter Sunday – use the online store finder to see if your nearest store will remain open.
The supermarket's typical hours are now 8am until 8pm for larger shops, although smaller convenience stores are usually open longer.
Smaller stores are usually open 7am to 10pm.
The supermarket has also introduced dedicated hours for NHS staff and vulnerable shoppers in its bigger shops.
NHS staff will have priority Monday to Saturday from 7.30am to 8am, while elderly customers, carers and disabled customers have a dedicated shopping hour from 8am to 9am Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
These dedicated shopping times will be in place over the weekend.
Good Friday: 8am to 8pm (larger stores) or 7am to 10pm (convenience stores)
Easter Saturday: 8am to 8pm (larger stores) or 7am to 10pm (convenience stores)
Easter Sunday: Most stores closed, some open
Easter Monday: 8am to 8pm (larger stores) or 7am to 10pm (convenience stores)
What about delivery? Saninsbury's had sold out of delivery slots for Easter weekend when we checked today.
Sainsbury's has over 2,300 shops in the UK – use the online finder tool to check the latest opening times.
Waitrose
Waitrose shoppers will be able to stock up on food or other essentials throughout the majority of the weekend.
Stores will be closed on Easter Sunday in England and Wales – Scotland shops will remain open.
During the coronavirus crisis, Waitrose store hours have typically been 8am to 8pm for larger stores, and 7am to 10pm for its Little Waitrose convenience stores.
These hours are expected to largely be in place over the weekend, apart from on Easter Monday when hours will be reduced, and on Easter Sunday.
Waitrose is currently allowing NHS staff and vulnerable shoppers to have priority access to stores for the first hour of trade.
We've asked if this is still planned over the Easter weekend.
Good Friday: 8am to 8pm (larger stores) or 7am to 10pm (convenience stores)
Easter Saturday: Closed (apart from in Scotland)
Easter Sunday: 8am to 8pm (larger stores) or 7am to 10pm (convenience stores)
Easter Monday: 9am to 6pm (larger stores) or 7am to 10pm (convenience stores)
What about delivery? Like the other supermarkets, Waitrose had sold out of online delivery slots when we checked today.
However, the store says it releases more slots each day so it's worth checking back frequently.
Waitrose has around 338 stores in the UK – make sure you check the times of your local store by using the online finder tool.
When are the bank holiday dates for 2020?
Here is the full list of upcoming 2020 bank holidays in England and Wales.
Dates in Scotland and Northern Ireland vary.
- Friday, April 10 (Good Friday)
- Monday, April 13 (Easter Monday)
- Monday, May 8 (Early May Bank Holiday)
- Monday, May 25 (Spring Bank Holiday)
- Monday, August 31 (Summer Bank Holiday)
- Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day)
- Monday, December 28 (substitute Boxing Day)
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