Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Sunday Trading |

Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994 some shops that open on a Sunday face restrictions on their hours of trading.

Small shops with a floor area of up to 280 square metres (3,000 square feet) can choose their own Sunday opening hours. But they must be aware that staff who work on a Sunday may have special employment rights.

Many large shops can only open on a Sunday for a continuous period of six hours between 10.00 and 18.00.

But there are large shops that are exempt from Sunday trading rules. These are:

shops such as off-licences that sell only or mainly alcohol
shops in airports and railway stations
shops at service stations
registered pharmacies that don't sell any goods other than medicinal products and medical and surgical appliances
shops on a farm that mainly sell their own produce
shops that wholly or mainly sell motor or bicycle supplies and accessories
shops that only supply goods to aircraft or sea-going vessels on arrival at, or departure from, a port, harbour or airport
exhibition stands selling goods

If your business is affected by the rules, you must display notices of the six-hour period during which you plan to trade on Sundays in a conspicuous position inside and outside your shop.

As well as complying with restrictions on opening hours on normal Sundays, large stores of more than 280 square metres (3,000 square feet) mustn't open on:

Easter Sunday
Christmas Day

Small shops are free to open when they choose on these days.

Large Shops affected by this legislation no longer need to give prior notification to the local authority of their Sunday opening hours or changes in these hours. Therefore Great Yarmouth Borough Council no longer holds a register of large shops and their Sunday Trading Hours.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What goods can be sold on a Sunday?

The Sunday Trading Act 1994 regulates shop opening hours. It does not regulate the sale of particular goods. The Act removed a number of anomalies which existed under the Sunday trading provisions of the Shops Act 1950, which prohibited the sale of some goods but not other, often similar, goods. Sale of certain goods, such as alcohol, is subject to separate legislation.

How does Sunday Trading Act affect street markets, car boot sales etc?

The Sunday Trading Act 1994 regulates shop opening hours. It does not regulate street markets or car boot sales. These are subject to separate local planning legislation, normally enforced by local authorities.

Why are large Garden centres not able to open on Easter Sunday?

This was considered by Parliament in 1994 during the passage of the Sunday Trading Bill. An amendment proposing that large garden centres should be exempt from closing on Easter Sunday was defeated on a free vote in both Houses.

If you have any further questions regarding Sunday Trading, you can contact us using the online contact form below:

Form - Contact

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