Save yourself a wasted trip to the supermarket by checking which shops are open on coronation day and the following bank holiday.
Plans are now firmly in place for King Charles III's coronation, with the time of the coronation now revealed, along with other events across the weekend announced. As the big day falls on a Saturday, the UK Government has arranged for a bank holiday to follow the event on Monday 8 May. And while this allows Brits to make the most of the celebratory weekend, the plans have left some confused as to what will and won't be open as normal.
Alongside wondering if trains will be running on coronation day and whether schools will be closed, many want to know if shops will be open. Most shops and supermarkets shut their doors back in September for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, so it's no surprise that the public want to know the plans for the upcoming coronation too. Here's what we know about whether shops will be open on coronation day.
Are shops open on coronation day?
No major shops or businesses have announced they will be closed on coronation day. Therefore, shops which are usually open on Saturdays will remain open, because - unlike on the day of the late Queen's funeral - shops are not obligated to close on the day of the ceremony.
However, it's possible that some companies may choose to shut or have reduced hours in order to allow staff to celebrate the coronation. Meanwhile, Asda is offering its staff a paid day off on the bank holiday Monday, so that they can participate in the Big Help Out, which is a national day of volunteering to mark the coronation.
Supermarket opening hours on coronation day
Is Tesco open on coronation day?
- Coronation day: Normal hours
- Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
- Monday 8 May: 8am-6pm
Check your local Tesco store's opening times here.
Is Aldi open on coronation day?
- Coronation day: Normal hours
- Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
- Monday 8 May: 8am-8pm (10pm in Scotland)
Check your local Aldi store's opening times here.
Is ASDA open on coronation day?
- Coronation day: Normal hours
- Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
- Monday 8 May: 7am-8pm
Check your local ASDA store's opening times here.
Is Sainsbury's open on coronation day?
- Coronation day: Normal hours
- Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
- Monday 8 May: 8am - 8pm (10pm in Scotland, and 7am-11pm for Sainsbury's local)
Check your local Sainsbury's store's opening times here.
Is Lidl open on coronation day?
- Coronation day: Normal hours
- Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
- Monday 8 May: Normal hours
Check your local Lidl store's opening times here.
Is Morrisons open on coronation day?
- Coronation day: Normal hours
- Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
- Monday 8 May: 7am-8pm
Check your local Morrisons store's opening times here.
Is Waitrose open on coronation day?
- Coronation day: Normal hours
- Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
- Monday 8 May: 8am-6pm (7am to 10pm for Little Waitrose)
Check your local Waitrose store's opening times here.
Is Co-op open on coronation day?
- Coronation day: Normal hours
- Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
- Monday 8 May: Check local store
Check your local Co-op store's opening times here.
Is Iceland open on coronation day?
- Coronation day: Normal hours
- Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
- Monday 8 May: 8am-7pm
Check your local Iceland store's opening times here.
Are any shops closed on coronation day?
Most supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies will be open on the coronation day. Any shops that will be closed for the coronation are more likely to be local or independent stores, so you'll need to check ahead to find out if they're open.
As well as the smaller versions of superstores - such as Tesco Express or Sainsbury's Local - other supermarket shops that will likely be open include:
- Budgens
- The Co-op
- M&S Simply Food
- Service station supermarkets
Farm shops are also likely to be open to sell their produce, but it's always best to check ahead.
Will pubs and restaurants be open on coronation day?
Pubs, bars and restaurants will be open as normal on coronation day, and some may even be open with extended hours, because venues will be able to continue serving customers for an extra two hours between Friday 5 May and Sunday 7 May.
This comes after Parliament passed an order extending licensing hours for pubs, clubs and bars in England and Wales from 11pm until 1am on Friday 5 May, Saturday 6 May and Sunday 7 May 2023
Did shops close for the Queens funeral?
Yes, many shops and businesses across the UK shut their doors as a mark of respect for Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her funeral. The exception was in London, where many supermarkets and convenience stores remained open to accommodate the thousands of people who had travelled to the capital for the occasion.
Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons and Waitrose closed all of their stores, Asda stores, Sainbury's Locals and Tesco Express' were closed until 5pm, while larger Sainsbury's and Tescos were shut all day.
In addition, food and drink chains such as Wetherspoons, McDonalds and Greggs also closed their doors.
Related features:
- Where will King Charles III's coronation take place?
- How to watch King Charles III's coronation on TV
- How much could King Charles III's coronation cost and who will pay?
- Coronation concert line-up: Who will be performing?
- Are Prince Harry and Meghan going to the coronation?
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