{"id":1126,"date":"2022-05-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-26T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/articles\/guide-to-sunday-trading-laws\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T16:50:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T16:50:25","slug":"guide-to-sunday-trading-laws","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/retail\/guide-to-sunday-trading-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"What are Sunday trading laws? A simple guide for businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For many small businesses, the weekend is one of the busiest periods of trading. However, if you own a shop there are laws on Sunday trading that you need to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read on to find out which businesses need to follow Sunday trading laws, what happens if you don\u2019t, and how to manage your staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-uk-sunday-trading-laws\">What are the UK Sunday trading laws?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether or not you need to follow Sunday trading laws depends on the size and type of shop you operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In England and Wales, shops <strong>under 280 square metres<\/strong> are classed as small shops and <strong>don\u2019t need to follow Sunday trading laws<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This means that you\u2019re free to open to customers any day of the year at any hour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your shop is <strong>over 280 square metres<\/strong>, you\u2019ll need to follow these rules:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">on Sundays you can <strong>only open for six consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">you <strong>can\u2019t open on Christmas Day or Easter Sunday<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have a large shop, you must clearly display your Sunday hours inside and outside your shop. Retailers who break Sunday trading laws could be fined up to \u00a350,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-which-shops-are-exempt-from-sunday-trading-restrictions\">Which shops are exempt from Sunday trading restrictions?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are some shops larger than 280 square metres that don\u2019t have to follow Sunday trading laws, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">shops in road services<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">shops in airports and train stations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">registered pharmacies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">shops selling bicycle or motor supplies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">farms selling their own produce<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">exhibition stands<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-are-there-different-sunday-trading-laws-in-scotland-and-northern-ireland\">Are there different Sunday trading laws in Scotland and Northern Ireland?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Businesses in Scotland can open for as long as they want on Sundays as there are no trading restrictions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, there\u2019s legislation that stops employers in Scotland from requiring their staff work on a Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Northern Ireland, large shops can open for up to five hours between 1pm and 6pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-001\">\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-are-there-rules-for-your-employees-who-work-on-sundays\">Are there rules for your employees who work on Sundays?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you run a shop business that\u2019s open on Sundays, employees can opt out of Sunday working unless it\u2019s the only day they\u2019ve been employed to work on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As an employer, you need to tell staff about their rights to opt out of Sunday hours when they start working for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s important to note that staff can\u2019t be treated unfairly or dismissed if they choose not to work on Sundays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The government website has further information on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/sunday-working\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Sunday working rules for employers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-do-you-need-to-consider-if-you-own-a-small-shop\">What do you need to consider if you own a small shop?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How will you manage staff?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even though you can open at any time, you\u2019ll need to choose your opening hours carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want staff to work late nights, Sundays, and bank holidays, then you may have to pay them more and there are legal obligations to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Is it worth moving to a bigger premises?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you run a successful small shop, you may be considering moving to a bigger premises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However if you do a lot of business on a Sunday, moving to a large shop that has to follow Sunday trading laws could have a negative impact on sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s important to decide whether the benefits of having a larger space outweigh the limited trading hours on Sundays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-do-we-have-sunday-trading-laws\">Why do we have Sunday trading laws?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sunday trading laws in the UK have been around since the 1930s, with the current Sunday Trading Act introduced in 1994.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s a limit on Sunday opening hours due to Sunday traditionally being a day of rest, as well as a religious or spiritual day for many people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They also help small businesses, allowing them to stay open for as long as they want when larger retailers have to close earlier than usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those against Sunday trading laws say they don\u2019t fit with the always-on nature of modern society, with a negative impact on job creation and the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, those in favour believe in protecting the special, restful nature of Sundays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-30c80bf8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:10px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-will-sunday-trading-laws-be-relaxed-in-the-future\">Will Sunday trading laws be relaxed in the future?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sunday trading laws are a divisive subject, leading to several campaigns to abolish them over the years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2021, the government considered suspending Sunday trading restrictions for 12 months to help the economy bounce back after the Covid-19 pandemic, although they didn\u2019t end up changing the law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2012, Sunday trading restrictions were removed during the London Olympics to make the most of extra tourist spending. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few years later, in 2016, David Cameron launched an unsuccessful bill to remove Sunday trading laws and give local councils more powers to control shop opening hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since then, campaigners have been pressuring the government to shake-up the rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In September 2025, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thegrocer.co.uk\/news\/sunday-trading-shake-up-on-table-as-ministers-aim-to-calm-retail-rates-row\/708992.article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Grocer<\/a> reported that the government was considering relaxing the Sunday trading laws for some of the UK&#8217;s biggest supermarkets. This was stoked by the news that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/what-are-business-rates\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1560\" >business rates<\/a> will increase with new multipliers in April 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-could-this-mean-for-small-businesses\">What could this mean for small businesses?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Sunday trading laws are relaxed or scrapped, it\u2019d have a big impact on many small shops, particularly convenience stores that compete with supermarkets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although many supermarkets have smaller stores to get around Sunday trading restrictions, in many areas small, independent stores are the go-to retailers on Sundays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Changes to Sunday trading laws could see large businesses benefit as they have the capacity to open for longer, as well as the ability to attract more customers with lower prices and a bigger variety of products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If small convenience store businesses lost out on Sunday trading to their supermarket rivals, this could lead to job losses and business closures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the moment, there are no concrete plans to change Sunday trading restrictions, but it&#8217;s a conversation that seems to be gaining momentum again. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-small-business-guides\">More small business guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/petty-cash-meaning\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1130\">A guide to managing petty cash at your business<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/income\/what-is-inflation\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1178\">What does the high inflation rate mean for small businesses?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1121\" href=\"\/knowledge\/marketing\/advantages-of-social-media-advertising\/\">What are the advantages of social media advertising?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-94e519ba wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-ready-to-set-up-your-cover\">Ready to set up your cover?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">As one of the UK&#8217;s biggest <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5152\">business insurance<\/a> providers, we specialise in <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/public-liability-insurance\/\">public liability insurance<\/a> and protect more trades than anybody else. Why not take a look now and build a quick, tailored quote?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/quote.simplybusiness.co.uk\/business\">Start your quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-end\">\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Find out how Sunday trading laws work and if reforms are coming. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2691,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sb_hreflang":"","sb_hreflang_url":"","disable_breadcrumbs":false,"sb_breadcrumbs":[],"sb_reviewed_by":"catriona-smith","sb_review_date":"2026-01-28T16:40:25","sb_enable_content_gating":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[347],"hidden-category":[],"coauthors":[20],"class_list":["post-1126","knowledge","type-knowledge","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-retail"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Sunday trading laws \u2013 what do you need to know?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What are the UK Sunday trading laws? 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