As the UK gears up for Easter bank holidays, banks and major supermarkets announce closures and adjusted operating hours. Plan ahead to avoid inconvenience.
As the United Kingdom braces for the upcoming Easter bank holidays, including Good Friday on March 29 and Easter Monday, the public is advised to anticipate closures and altered operating hours for banks and major supermarkets. Historically instituted in 1871 by Sir John Lubbock, bank holidays have led not only to the closure of financial institutions but also affected the operation of businesses and government entities.
Key financial institutions like Barclays, Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Nationwide Building Society, Santander, and HSBC are set to close their doors on Good Friday. While physical branches will remain inaccessible, customers can still utilise online banking services. Those requiring direct assistance may encounter reduced customer service hours and are encouraged to consult their bank’s website for precise information. For those needing to verify the operational status of their local bank branches, many banks provide online branch locator tools.
In preparation for Easter weekend, supermarkets across the UK are adjusting their opening times in compliance with UK trading laws, which mandate the closure of large shops on Easter Sunday. Stores including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Lidl, Waitrose, Aldi, and Co-op will alter their hours of operation to accommodate the holiday. While most will maintain regular hours on Good Friday and Easter Monday, significant deviations are expected on Easter Sunday, specifically enforced closures except in Scotland.
To manage the expected increase in shoppers, Lidl suggests visiting during less busy times, typically early morning or late evening. Aldi and Waitrose will operate on a reduced schedule on Easter Sunday but remain open during the other bank holidays. Furthermore, the Co-op may implement various opening times, particularly in smaller outlets.
As the Easter celebrations approach, residents are reminded to plan their shopping and banking activities ahead of the long weekend to mitigate any inconvenience caused by the amended schedules.
