Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it is time to extend Sunday opening hours?

635 replies

Sundayopeningplease · 19/02/2023 09:32

It really is time for the restrictive Sunday trading hours to be lifted. The archaic laws have not kept up with modern society.

Sunday may traditionally have been a family day but there have been a lot of changes since then. People are in increasingly different family set ups. The working hours have changed for a lot of people and being able to shop on a Sunday morning would improve things greatly. It would help trade for businesses too.

Sunday is now a major shopping day and the hours need to reflect this.

OP posts:
Mrsfussypants1 · 19/02/2023 18:50

For me personally I wouldn't extend the uk Sunday trading times. The shops where we live are open 10-4, quite a busy well off area, and seems to go quiet the last hour or two of the day, more of a morning rush on Sunday. I've noticed quite a few have job vacancies at the moment too, so there doesn't seem to be a big need for longer trading. The last couple of years more are joining the not open Boxing day list, which I think is great, heck even our Next shut this year and they're always open. Retail is a hard job and there's been quite a lot of leavers hence why the big names have been giving the shop floor staff a decent pay rise to try to retain them.

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 18:50

@Miajk why do you think if someone is shopping on a Sunday they will be buying "crap" they don't need?
I have actually switched to home delivery for my main supermarket shop but if I hadn't I would have quite possibly gone today. I would have bought exactly the same stuff. How is food and toilet roll "crap"?

IndiaDreamer · 19/02/2023 18:50

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Flounder2022 · 19/02/2023 18:50

Miajk · 19/02/2023 18:41

It doesn't have to be Sunday but for the majority of the population Sunday does make sense (family day traditionally, still church day for religious people, weekend day for 9-5 workers).

These modern conveniences have become a cancer of society. Everything must be accessible, immediately, all the time.

If you can't manage to get what you need in the 6 days shops are open all day long, you probably don't need it that urgently!

Show quote history

I really hoped we were past making every decision for the ‘majority’. There is a sizeable section society who are not 9-5, family orientated, religious folk who like to sit around reading the broadsheets on a Sunday before they tuck in to their Sunday roast.

I wonder when people go for a drink or out for Sunday lunch if they consider that if they just stayed home then the publican might decide to shut up shop and let all the staff go home to their family, whether they want to or not!

CrappyJob · 19/02/2023 18:51

IndiaDreamer · 19/02/2023 18:47

@CrappyJob it certainly was the right thing, but extended Sunday hours would've been awful!

I loved finishing at 4 and coming home to my DH and DSs

So it was bloody awful, but you loved coming home at four?

Okay then.

Flounder2022 · 19/02/2023 18:53

IndiaDreamer · 19/02/2023 18:41

@CrappyJob but lots is available on line at no extra cost!

Not everyone can afford to shop online.

IndiaDreamer · 19/02/2023 18:54

@CrappyJob I don't understand your comment, this is about extending Sunday hours, I would not have wanted to be coming home at 8, when my children were in bed, I loved coming home at 4 guaranteed to have at least 3 hours with them!

Can you understand that?

Are you trying to say I'm just making out I prefer that shops close at 4? Which would be very odd of you.

Miajk · 19/02/2023 18:55

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 18:50

@Miajk why do you think if someone is shopping on a Sunday they will be buying "crap" they don't need?
I have actually switched to home delivery for my main supermarket shop but if I hadn't I would have quite possibly gone today. I would have bought exactly the same stuff. How is food and toilet roll "crap"?

That was in response to someone mentioning that people were using Amazon as a positive example. Amazon is a big part of a huge over consumption issue.

IndiaDreamer · 19/02/2023 18:55

@Flounder2022 as I said......

Lots available on line at no extra cost Grin

Miajk · 19/02/2023 18:56

Flounder2022 · 19/02/2023 18:50

I really hoped we were past making every decision for the ‘majority’. There is a sizeable section society who are not 9-5, family orientated, religious folk who like to sit around reading the broadsheets on a Sunday before they tuck in to their Sunday roast.

I wonder when people go for a drink or out for Sunday lunch if they consider that if they just stayed home then the publican might decide to shut up shop and let all the staff go home to their family, whether they want to or not!

Show quote history

That's fine, I'm not religious and don't have a family but me and most people I worked with hated working all weekend.

And the idea that we or anyone should just because some people can't organize to shop other 6 days a week is ridiculous and frankly stupid.

Flounder2022 · 19/02/2023 18:59

IndiaDreamer · 19/02/2023 18:55

@Flounder2022 as I said......

Lots available on line at no extra cost Grin

Have you shopped much on a budget? Needing to be able to choose the reduced items at the end of the day. Or be able to choose the smaller block of cheese as it’s cheaper? Not having to pay the delivery charges? Or shop in the discount supermarkets that may not deliver in your area?

IndiaDreamer · 19/02/2023 19:01

@Flounder2022 no I haven't, could you just explain how extended hours that OP wants would help that?

Questioningtoday · 19/02/2023 19:02

Miajk · 19/02/2023 18:56

That's fine, I'm not religious and don't have a family but me and most people I worked with hated working all weekend.

And the idea that we or anyone should just because some people can't organize to shop other 6 days a week is ridiculous and frankly stupid.

Show quote history

Well apparently you don’t think it’s fine, you seem to think everyone should feel the same.

I loved working the weekends and having days off during the week.

will I outline again why I couldn’t shop any of the other 6 days this week and so had to do so today? And why if I lived somewhere with such restrictive hours it would have been awkward today also?

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 19:04

@Miajk oh ok.
To be honest when I order online I try to mostly order stuff for home delivery from established High Street retailers rather than buying from Amazon (which for a lot of the type of things I buy is often more expensive). But the nature of home delivery for customer convenience it often would need to be delivered in the evenings or weekends when traditionally more people are at home (doing their "family time" I suppose 😂).
So basically it's 'bad' for someone to have to work in a shop on a Sunday but perfectly fine for someone to work as a delivery driver on a Sunday.... according to many on this thread 😂

Flounder2022 · 19/02/2023 19:07

IndiaDreamer · 19/02/2023 19:01

@Flounder2022 no I haven't, could you just explain how extended hours that OP wants would help that?

You asserted that online shopping is the answer and means that people couldn’t possibly have any reason to need extended opening hours.

I’m not suggesting that extended hours solve everything but I am suggesting online shopping doesn’t either.

Flounder2022 · 19/02/2023 19:10

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 19:04

@Miajk oh ok.
To be honest when I order online I try to mostly order stuff for home delivery from established High Street retailers rather than buying from Amazon (which for a lot of the type of things I buy is often more expensive). But the nature of home delivery for customer convenience it often would need to be delivered in the evenings or weekends when traditionally more people are at home (doing their "family time" I suppose 😂).
So basically it's 'bad' for someone to have to work in a shop on a Sunday but perfectly fine for someone to work as a delivery driver on a Sunday.... according to many on this thread 😂

I’d wager family time may also include trips to restaurants, the cinema, the pub or a million other things that requires staffing!

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 19:14

@Flounder2022 exactly 😂

9outof10cats · 19/02/2023 19:14

When I was a kid, Sunday opening wasn't a thing; there was no internet or online shopping, and no one appeared to come to any harm because of this.

I must have been late teens when shops were allowed to open on Sunday, and I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread.

Now I am older, I've gone the other way. I miss having at least one day a week when there is less traffic on the roads. I think lockdown reminded me how nice it can be without the constant traffic.

IndiaDreamer · 19/02/2023 19:15

@Flounder2022 but @Sundayopeningplease really could buy online things that are not ever going to be reduced because of last minute reductions on a Sunday, which may or not may happen

I'll give you a few ideas

Non perishables

Laundry stuff
Frozen stuff
Anything other than fresh food

Miajk · 19/02/2023 19:16

Questioningtoday · 19/02/2023 19:02

Well apparently you don’t think it’s fine, you seem to think everyone should feel the same.

I loved working the weekends and having days off during the week.

will I outline again why I couldn’t shop any of the other 6 days this week and so had to do so today? And why if I lived somewhere with such restrictive hours it would have been awkward today also?

Show quote history

Surely then having one weekday and one weekend day off/shorter as your two days off is a great compromise to meet everyone's needs?

Why are you insisting everyone should work weekends just because you won't survive without a late night Sunday run to Tesco? 😂

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 19:16

@9outof10cats ironically a lot of the reason there is usually more traffic around on Sundays is because outside of cities (and even in cities... ) there isn't public transport running on Sundays 🤔

Miajk · 19/02/2023 19:18

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 19:04

@Miajk oh ok.
To be honest when I order online I try to mostly order stuff for home delivery from established High Street retailers rather than buying from Amazon (which for a lot of the type of things I buy is often more expensive). But the nature of home delivery for customer convenience it often would need to be delivered in the evenings or weekends when traditionally more people are at home (doing their "family time" I suppose 😂).
So basically it's 'bad' for someone to have to work in a shop on a Sunday but perfectly fine for someone to work as a delivery driver on a Sunday.... according to many on this thread 😂

Tbh I personally believe all this crazy convenience around consumerism isn't necessary.

Next day delivery, shops open all the time, delivery drivers working crazy hours - it seems like as a society all we do is live in a rush and spend money.

The fact that it's so unthinkable to some people on this thread to give workers a shorter Sunday just proves how mad we've gone.

CrappyJob · 19/02/2023 19:19

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

And yet you fail to be able to explain how your point relates to my post

woodhill · 19/02/2023 19:21

9outof10cats · 19/02/2023 19:14

When I was a kid, Sunday opening wasn't a thing; there was no internet or online shopping, and no one appeared to come to any harm because of this.

I must have been late teens when shops were allowed to open on Sunday, and I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread.

Now I am older, I've gone the other way. I miss having at least one day a week when there is less traffic on the roads. I think lockdown reminded me how nice it can be without the constant traffic.

Have to agree

CrappyJob · 19/02/2023 19:22

Miajk · 19/02/2023 18:47

Eh?

How can you not be physically able to get shopping in the other 6 days a week? Genuinely?

We should force people to work all kinds of hours to benefit the few entitled, unorganized people who can't function without ultimate convenience? Come on don't be ridiculous

Show quote history

I think you might have quoted the wrong post.

I work in a supermarket on a Sunday. I shop on the other days of the week...

Thankfully I don't live in England, otherwise I would probably have to work fewer hours.

Swipe left for the next trending thread