Sunday Trading Notification

Following the introduction of the Sunday Trading Act in 1994 there have been no restrictions on shopping hours - apart from Sundays.   All shops are now able to open without restrictions between Monday and Saturday.   Restrictions on opening times on Sundays are now confined to large shops (defined under the Act as those having an internal sales area of over 280sq.m).  

The critical consideration is the floor area definition, which is clarified as meaning the part of the shop within a building that is used for display of goods and customer services.  

Large shops should notify Environmental Health. 

Shops are required to remain closed on Easter Sunday (and on Christmas Day when it falls on a  Sunday). 

Exemptions

The following businesses are exempt from the requirements of the Act:

• Public Houses, Off Licences and takeaways
• Chemists and pharmacies (only where medical goods are sold)
• Shops in railway stations
• Petrol filling stations and service areas
• Motor accessory shops
• Exhibition Stands

The Sunday Trading Act 1994 also includes specific measures to protect the rights of shop workers who do not wish to work on Sunday.  Apart from the restrictions mentioned above, it is left to individual owners to determine their opening hours in the light of customer demand.