Coronavirus: UK supermarket opening hours during lockdown
Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Lidl, Asda, M&S, Waitrose and Iceland have all reduced their opening hours during the coronavirus crisis.
Lockdown measures in the UK during the coronavirus crisis has led to the closure of many businesses, however those offering essential services, such as supermarkets, will remain active throughout the period.
Most supermarkets have adopted measures to help stop the spread of coronavirus, such as social distancing rules, limits on the number of customers in the store at the same time, and reduced opening hours.
With many British consumers panic buying despite assurances that there would not be any shortages in food and household items, supermarket shelves across the UK have been stripped bare.
Thus, part of reason for the reduction in opening hours is to give under-pressure staff time to restock shelves, as well as to allow the elderly and NHS and emergency workers access to stores at specially designated times. At present, no supermarkets are open 24 hours.
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Tesco
A number of TESCO stores are now operating at reduced hours, and will open from 6am and 10pm.
The supermarket chain has also introduced a special shopping hour for its workers and NHS staff, who will be able to shop an hour before opening hours on Sundays, and will have an hour between 9am and 10am to shop on Tuesdays and Thursdays at all stores except for Express stores.
To check your local Tesco store, visit: tesco.com/store-locator/uk/
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s announced last month that it would reduce opening markets at all of its supermarkets from March 23. All of Sainsbury’s stores, including Sainsbury’s Local and petrol stations, will open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, all branches will dedicate 8am - 9am for serving elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers; while NHS staff carrying a valid ID will have priority Monday to Saturday, from 7.30am to 8am.
To check your local store, visit stores.sainsburys.co.uk
Asda
Asda’s 24-hour stores will close between 12am and 6am to allow staff time to restock shelves. NHS workers will have priority in larger stores every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am to 9am.
To find out more about your local store’s opening hours, visit: storelocator.asda.com
Morrisons
Morrisons has changed its opening times across the country. The new store opening hours are from 8am to 8pm from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays Morrisons will be open as usual.
The supermarket has also introduced NHS hour in all it stores from 7am to 8am, Monday to Saturday.
To check opening hours for your local store, visit groceries.morrisons.com
Waitrose
Waitrose has varied opening hours between its branches.
You can find the opening times of your local Waitrose supermarket using its branch locator.
Aldi
From Monday to Saturday, Aldi will open between 8am and 8pm, with Sunday opening hours staying the same - 10am to 4pm (or 6pm in Scotland).
Aldi is giving priority access to emergency workers at any time of the day, meaning NHS and 999 workers will be able to go to the front of the queue.
To check your local store, visit: aldi.co.uk
Lidl
Lidl is opening an hour earlier than usual in order to allow elderly customers do their shopping.
To check the opening times of your local Lidl, visit: lidl.co.uk/about-us/store-finder-opening-hours.
Iceland
Iceland is opening its supermarkets one hour early, between 8am - 9am, for elderly customers. The final opening hour from Monday to Saturday will be NHS staff only.
To check your local store’s opening times, visit https://www.iceland.co.uk/store-finder
M&S
M&S has also implemented a special shopping hour for NHS and emergency service workers, which is the first hour of trading each Tuesday and Friday morning.
Customers can find the details of their local store opening times here.