Sunday trading
Summary
There are limits to when businesses can trade on a Sunday. The information below explains the key facts from the Sunday Trading Act, which was introduced in 2004. For information or guidance on Sunday trading for your business, get in touch with us.
How to get advice on Sunday trading
- Contact us online, or by e-mail, telephone or letter (our details are at the foot of this page);
- Information we will need from you:
- your full name;
- your full address including your postcode;
- your home telephone number and a number which we can contact you on during normal office hours if this is different;
- your email address (if applicable);
- how you would like us to respond to you, and;
- details of your enquiry.
Further information
Sunday Trading Act 1994
The Sunday Trading Act 1994:
- Looks after the opening times of large stores on Sunday;
- It does not allow large shops to open on Easter Sunday;
- It does not allow large shops to open on Christmas Day when it falls on a Sunday.
Campaigns & consultations
'Notification of Sunday opening hours' - a public consultation was launched on 18 March 2003 on a proposal to remove, by means of a Regulatory Reform Order:
- the requirement for large shops (retail area of over 280 sq m/3,000 sq ft) to notify local authorities of their Sunday trading hours, and;
- the requirement on local authorities to maintain a register of such notifications.
Sale of Methylated Spirit - The same consultation also covers the sale of methylated spirits on a Sunday. The sale of methylated spirits is currently not allowed on Sunday under Section 26 of the Revenue Act 1889.
Customs and Excise are taking steps to cancel this provision through the same Regulatory Reform Order. The complete consultation regarding Sunday trading is available by following the link shown below (under 'external links').
Key Facts
Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994 the limits on shop opening hours are:
- Small shops (under 280 sq m/3,000 sq ft) - no restrictions on opening.
- Large shops (over 280 sq m/3,000 sq ft):
- Monday to Saturday - no restrictions
- Sunday - Opening for 6 hours only, between 10am and 6pm
- Easter Sunday - closed
- Christmas Day (when on a Sunday).
The 1994 Act requires large stores which open on Sundays to inform us in writing of the hours they intend to open and to post notices of their opening hours inside and outside their stores.
The 1994 Act was a compromise between strongly held and competing views. The partial deregulation introduced by the Act appears to have provided a reasonable and enforceable balance.
Related pages on this website
External links
Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
Details on health and safety issues.
Department of Trade & Industry (DTI)
Details and guidance on the Sunday Trading Laws.
Contact us
| contact officer/team: | Safety Support Officer |
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| web: | online enquiry form |
| email: | envserv@s-norfolk.gov.uk |
| freephone: | 0808 168 4444 |
| telephone: | 01508 533830 |
| minicom/textphone: | 01508 533622 |
| address: | South Norfolk Council South Norfolk House Swan Lane Long Stratton Norwich NR15 2XE |
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If you need information in large print, audio cassette, braille, translation (written or verbal) or signed interpretation, let us know when you contact us.
Last updated on: 02 August 2011