Sunday Trading Rules

Guide summary

Check if your shop is a large shop (over 280 square metres). If it is, you must only open for 6 continuous hours between 10am and 6pm on Sundays in England and Wales. Some shops like those in airports or petrol stations are exempt. You could be fined up to £50,000 if you break these rules.

Check if your shop is large (over 280 sq m or about 3,000 sq ft)
Large shops must open for 6 continuous hours between 10am and 6pm on Sunday
Common opening patterns: 10am-4pm, 11am-5pm, or 12pm-6pm
Small shops (under 280 sq m) can open any hours on Sunday
Fines for breaking rules can be up to £50,000 in England and Wales
Exempt shops include airports, petrol stations and farm shops
Large shops must close on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday
Shop workers can refuse to work Sunday by giving written notice

The Sunday Trading Act 1994 restricts opening hours for large shops in England and Wales. Penalties for breach can be up to £50,000. Rules differ significantly across the UK nations.

Sunday Trading Act 1994 - large shop definition

Definition of large shops and Sunday opening restrictions in England and Wales.

Large shops (over 280 square metres) in England and Wales face Sunday opening restrictions.

Large shop threshold: Internal retail floor area over 280 sq m (3,000 sq ft)
Examples of large shops: Supermarkets, department stores, furniture stores, DIY stores
Area calculation excludes: Storage areas, staff rooms, areas not accessible to customers
Sunday opening hours (large shops): 6 continuous hours between 10am and 6pm
Common opening patterns: 10am-4pm, 11am-5pm, or 12pm-6pm
Penalty for non-compliance: A fine (not capped at a fixed statutory amount), determined by the court on summary conviction
Enforcement: Local authority Trading Standards

Sunday trading rules (opens in a new tab)

Sunday trading hours restrictions

Legal limits on Sunday opening hours for retail - varies by UK nation

Sunday trading hours are restricted for large retail stores in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland. These restrictions do not apply to small shops.

Scotland: No restrictions - stores can open any hours
England & Wales: 6 continuous hours between 10am and 6pm for large stores
Northern Ireland: 5 hours between 1pm and 6pm for large stores
Small stores (all UK): No restrictions on stores under 280 sq metres

What counts as a 'large store': A shop with a relevant floor area exceeding 280 square metres (approximately 3,000 square feet). This is the sales area, not including warehouses or stock rooms.

Legal basis:

England & Wales: Sunday Trading Act 1994
Northern Ireland: Shops (Sunday Trading &c.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997
Scotland: No Sunday trading restrictions (never had restrictions on shop opening hours)

Penalties: In England and Wales, local authorities can fine retailers up to £50,000 for breaching Sunday trading laws. In Northern Ireland, criminal prosecution is possible.

Official source: gov.uk/sunday-trading-rules

Sunday trading - worker rights

Rights of shop workers to refuse Sunday working.

Shop workers and betting workers have the right to refuse Sunday working under the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Right to opt out: Employees can opt out of Sunday working
Notice period for opt-out (large-shop workers): 1 month's written notice
Notice period for other shop and betting workers: 3 months' written notice
Protection from detriment: Cannot be dismissed or disadvantaged for refusing Sunday work
Legal basis: Employment Rights Act 1996
Applies to: Shop workers and betting workers

Employee rights

Shop workers (unless employed to work only Sundays) can opt out of Sunday working at any time by giving 3 months' written notice — the notice period, not a qualifying period of employment. Dismissing an employee for refusing Sunday work is automatically unfair dismissal.

Legal basis

Primary legislation and key regulations

Sunday Trading Act 1994 Primary 1994 · UK-wide The Shops (Sunday Trading &c.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 Primary 1997 · N. Ireland Employment Rights Act 1996 Primary 1996 · UK-wide

Browse UK legislation legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

CIS 340 - Contractor and subcontractor guide (opens in a new tab)

Publication · HMRC

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HMRC

Sunday Trading Rules

Employee rights

Legal basis

Official guidance

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Annual retail compliance checklist