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Sunday Trading Legislation Quick Facts

Relevant or Related Legislation:

Sunday Trading Act 1994; Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004

Current Position:

The Sunday Trading Act 1994 regulates the Sunday opening hours of large shops and prohibits them from opening on Easter Sunday.

The Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 prohibits large shops from opening on Christmas Day. Click here to see the Christmas (Trading) Act fact sheet.

The Government reviewed the restrictions on Sunday shopping hours in 2006. Click here to read about the review.

Key Facts:

Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994, the restrictions on shop opening hours are:

• Small shops (up to 280 sq 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:

Q1. Do shops need to notify local authorities of their Sunday opening hours?
Q2. What goods can be sold on a Sunday?
Q3. How does the Sunday Trading Act affect street markets and car boot sales?
Q4. Why are large garden centres not able to open on Easter Sunday?
Q5. Are shops allowed to open on Christmas Day?
Q6. What is the special protection for Sunday working in shops?
Q7. What are the Sunday trading laws in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Q8. What large shops are exempt from the restrictions?

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Q1. 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. The Order also repealed the restriction contained in section 26 of the Revenue Act 1889 on the sale of methylated spirits between 10pm on Saturday and 8am on the following Monday.

Q2. 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. The 1994 Act removed a number of anomalies that existed under the Sunday trading provisions of the Shops Act 1950, which prohibited the sale of some goods but not other, often similar, goods. Sale of certain goods, such as alcohol, are subject to separate legislation.

Q3. 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. These are subject to separate local planning legislation, normally enforced by local authorities: Byelaws for Markets/Planning Policy.

Q4. 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.

Q5. Are shops allowed to open on Christmas Day?
The Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 (see separate Fact sheet) came into force on 9 December 2004, prohibiting large shops (over 280 sq m/3,000 sq ft) from opening on Christmas Day.

Q6. 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.

Q7. What are the Sunday trading laws in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
This is a devolved matter. Please contact the Scottish Government or the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Q8. What large shops are exempt from the restrictions?
Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994, 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.

Contacts:

Employees' Rights & Protection, Religious Festivals, Sunday Trading Act 1994 – BERR's Enquiry Unit

Alcohol Sales - Department of Culture Media and Sport
Street markets / Car Boot Sales - The relevant local authority