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Original poster

To think it's time to abolish Sunday trading rules in England

212 replies

CurdinHenry · 19/04/2026 20:41

And just have a more normal week

OP posts:
cinnamontroll · 19/04/2026 21:55

Yes they should. I’d bloody hate it if I lived in England. Yay for Scotland!

CottageGate · 19/04/2026 21:54

OP said to abolish Sunday trading laws and have 'a more normal week'.

Sunday hours is normal if you live in England.

maggiesleapp · 19/04/2026 21:54

In Northern Ireland Sunday trading is 1-6pm, smaller convenience stores open as normal. Its just something we are used to here so work around it.
Stayed in Belfast a few weeks ago with friends over from England and this was the only time I rolled my eyes at our trading laws. Managed to find a spot that served breakfast with mimosas though so all good!

Zov · 19/04/2026 21:53

Yes, abolish the Sunday trading, and close all the main shops on a Sunday! Like it used to be pre 2000s.

Dimms · 19/04/2026 21:52

CurdinHenry · 19/04/2026 21:00

Not really though... It's not inconvenient for me cos I live in Scotland and we don't do that nonsense. (I wouldn't move because of this)

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Why does it bother you then if you don’t even live in England?

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 19/04/2026 21:51

CurdinHenry · 19/04/2026 20:46

Agree with this too

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Agreed too. Central London they sometimes stay open later.

whereisit1 · 19/04/2026 21:51

Used to live in Scotland and did my shopping on a Sunday evening ready for the week ahead. Hate Sunday shopping hours in England.

Bikenutz · 19/04/2026 21:50

AlcoholicAntibiotic · 19/04/2026 21:44

Not everyone can get to a supermarket on a weekday

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The major supermarkets are open from 7am till 11pm, and if you still can’t get to them, order online for home delivery. And if that still doesn’t work, other shops exist. It’s not hard.

Yetone · 19/04/2026 21:49

ThisJoyousMaker · 19/04/2026 21:08

So why are you so bothered about what we do in England? I note you did not respond to my comment about Northern Isles and their more restrictive lives in the past. You seem to want to present the English as being backward without acknowledging that bin the iast some areas of Scotland were even more repressive and restrictive on a Sunday.

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This isn’t just in the past. Most of the NW Scottish Isles are still closing shops and restaurants on a Sunday.

BashfulClam · 19/04/2026 21:49

When I was a student I relied on Saturday and Sunday shits for money. There are some people who don’t libfcwitkinb weekends. I used to work (Scotland) 9-7 Saturday and Sunday plus another day during the week.

MaidOfSteel · 19/04/2026 21:47

CurdinHenry · 19/04/2026 20:45

It's really old-fashioned and inconvenient and most people aren't Christian. (There is no Sunday trading in Scotland and never had been and it's a lot better for anyone who just wants to relax instead of panic shopping)

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But we still have archaic alcohol purchase rules, it’s not sold between 22:00 and 10:00 every day.

I feel sorry for supermarket staff. This places seem to hardly ever shut!

ACynicalDad · 19/04/2026 21:46

I think you could put restrictions on individual retail and hospitality staff, say you can’t roster someone past 5 Saturday and Sunday unless they only work 2 days a week and nobody can work more than say 18 hours over a weekend. Plus something about protection for workers to make themselves unavailable for religious reasons on Sunday mornings. I’m sure that can be refined, but something along those lines can keep retail/hospitality open.

PrinceHarrysBaldPatch · 19/04/2026 21:45

Helpboat · 19/04/2026 20:48

We have a lot of family from abroad and it’s honestly a headache trying to get a coffee or ice-cream after dinner here in the summer. The cities just die unless it’s the weekend then it’s just bar/club culture.

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Going for ice cream or coffee after dinner isn't the culture in Britain though, so I'm not surprised you find it difficult. You need to go to Italy or Germany for that.

AlcoholicAntibiotic · 19/04/2026 21:44

RebelMoon · 19/04/2026 21:42

Why are people "panic buying" on a Sunday afternoon when the supermarket will be open again the next morning?

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Not everyone can get to a supermarket on a weekday

Molc · 19/04/2026 21:43

RebelMoon · 19/04/2026 21:42

Why are people "panic buying" on a Sunday afternoon when the supermarket will be open again the next morning?

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And convenience stores are open until late?

RebelMoon · 19/04/2026 21:42

pothygh · 19/04/2026 21:28

Sunday Trading laws are out of date and need to be abolished. That Sunday panic buying before the shops close at 4pm. Everything is then dead from 4pm onwards.

I'm with you OP

Why are people "panic buying" on a Sunday afternoon when the supermarket will be open again the next morning?

gamerchick · 19/04/2026 21:42

Id have Sundays where all is closed completely. Never agreed with it

Jc2001 · 19/04/2026 21:41

StrictlyCoffee · 19/04/2026 21:26

Yes. English Sunday trading laws are pathetic. For some reason some people in England seem to think that despite the UK being secular now plenty of other industries having to work a normal day retail should somehow be a special case. Much better up here. Not long back from Sainsbury’s myself.

I seem to remember it was th Scottish MPs in parliament who voted against relaxing the Sunday trading laws enough to tip the balance so it didn't happen. Some sort of protest against something or other.

Dahlia1234 · 19/04/2026 21:41

I think it's totally time the Sunday trading laws were abolished. They're out dated and don't fit in with today's world. And I say that as someone who worked in retail (and worked Saturdays AND Sundays) for many years.

Molc · 19/04/2026 21:41

I actually think the total opposite.

I’m old enough to remember when barely anything opened on a Sunday. It made Sunday special, a time for connecting with family and friends or doing something you enjoy.

Its pretty much just another day now.

And no, I’m not a Christian.

SabrinaThwaite · 19/04/2026 21:40

Some places still have half day closing on a Wednesday.

Just saying.

ADHDQueen · 19/04/2026 21:40

Plenty of convenience stores still open between 630am & 10pm in England. I regularly finish work at 1015pm on a Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Students dont seem to want to do weekends now. 😕

Delphiniumandlupins · 19/04/2026 21:38

AgnesMcDoo · 19/04/2026 20:46

We abolished it years ago in Scotland.

Always get caught when I visit England.

We do too. Like being able to buy alcohol before midday on a Sunday in England though.

gamerchick · 19/04/2026 21:37

You're happy to work all day on a Sunday then?

monty09 · 19/04/2026 21:36

I work in retail, I work Sunday's and I start at 6 in the morning, and even though we shut at 4 there are still staff that work until 10pm and 12 pm.
I dont think that they should stay open longer.