To think we shouldn't have to work the day before Christmas Eve?

Oh sorry, misread one of OP’s posts where she said 9pm. Which is still unreasonable if it’s not normal working hours.

OP, as they aren’t paying travel expenses I don’t think they have a leg to stand on. It’s not part of your normal work duties so they can’t penalise you for not agreeing to this. If it were in normal working hours and they were paying for your travel you’d struggle to make your case, but since it’s unpaid overtime (the early finish in January is irrelevant unless you’re getting back the exact same amount of extra time you’ll be spending on this occasion) and you’re expected to cover your own travel costs, it’s not a reasonable demand.

Are you a member of a union? If so ask them for advice. Does the company have an HR department? I would ask them to confirm in wiring that you’re being asked to travel 6 hours at your own expense for an activity which is not part of your normal work duties and that you will be penalised for non-attendance. Get it in writing if that’s seriously what they’re proposing. I would also tell them you don’t have access to a car that day and ask what their proposal is for those who don’t have private transport.

What happens if you don't have a car?

Certainly if not in your contract they cannot expect you to NOT claim travel expenses /overtime or TOIL.

I would go back to them with a cost of the journey via public transport and ask them to purchase your ticket as you have no money because Christmas, mentioning the time needed. Ask if you can arrive later/leave earlier, or give the option you can go in and prep the store for the boxing day sales..

According to Trainline, the 09.02 from Newcastle to Manchester takes 2 hrs and 18 minutes. And a return at 19.00 takes 2 hrs and 18 mins. That return ticket would cost you £53.29 if you booked it today.

Much easier and less stressful than driving - and let's face it, you'd have to pay to put petrol in your car anyway!

Read the thread, it has been covered several times.

What is "black eye Friday"?

I knew you'd be in the north east when you said "black eye Friday" - it's relatively commonly called that up there but I've never heard anyone use that expression anywhere else!

I don't think it's reasonable at all.

Seems to me your options are:

Suck it up and go but see if you could car share/get the train

Take the day as leave if that's an option

Don't say anything more about being unhappy about it, maybe make the odd positive comment about it. Then take the day off sick.

The fact it’s the day before Christmas Eve is completely irrelevant. It’s just another working day.

But the fact it’s a 6 hour journey and you won’t be getting travel expenses paid is not right.

Have you kept a holiday day specifically back for the Monday if you thought you had to use one?

I think commanding you have to go anywhere that involves a 3 hour trip each way outside of normal working hours is a pee take. I regularly used to work in different offices, and anything over an hour from normal place of work was considered working time. So if the other office was one hour away from mine starting at 9 was reasonable. If it were 3 hours away and my normal start time was 9, 11 was arrival time. If I had to be at a meeting at 9, then accommodation was provided, or I could claim the additional 2 hours in lieu.

Tell them you will go to the shop instead

If you are driving and absorbing the cost, not going via minibus or transport paid by your employer, then I do agree it is unfair of you employer to expect you to make that journey. Especially as a retail employee who is presumably on minimum wage or close to it.

They have to be there between 9am and 6pm at 6pm it will be wall to wall traffic getting home will be chaos

I think you’ve assumed something without checking. It doesn’t sound like you have much experience of the world of work as no one who has been in it for any time would have assumed and not checked how many days leave were being taken.
As others have said. It is normal that you need to use your annual leave for the Christmas closure. You should have checked how many days they were taking for that and worked out what that meant in terms of which days you had off. Next year you can check earlier.

Work is just that work for which you get paid. You’re not supposed to want to do it anyway (else we’d all do it for free). So having to go to a work meeting you feel a bit meh about - work. The Choice is yours. Work and get paid or don’t work and don’t get paid.

Tell them you haven't got access to a car and see what they say?

But in general, I think you are being unreasonable in not expecting to work up until 5pm on Christmas Eve.

Do you have the 20th closure in writing? If your contract says based in the shop only, then you have a point. If it just says work for the business etc, then you probably don't.

I run a business. We're shutting lunchtime on the 24th, which is quite normal tbh.

The shop being closed doesn’t automatically mean a day’s holiday, unless your bosses give it to you as a day’s holiday. In this case they haven’t, so you have the choice as to whether or not to take a day’s leave or join the Xmas meeting

Why wouldn't they get home till midnight?

YABU. Christmas Eve is a working day too. Unless it’s at the weekend or you’re a school child.

Standard employment contracts have a clause re 'any other duties'. So whilst it may not be explicitly stated, it is covered.

Sounds like a proctologist may be able to help

So take the day off and lose a day's pay or see if they will let you book it as holiday, otherwise it is a normal working day.