As Easter approaches, shoppers across Australia and the UK are gearing up for the long weekend, but they need to be mindful of varying store opening hours. Major retailers including Dan Murphy’s, BWS, and Liquorland in Australia, along with supermarkets in the UK, have announced their trading hours for the Easter 2025 long weekend. With Good Friday and Easter Sunday being public holidays, many stores will have restricted hours or will be closed altogether, making it essential for consumers to plan ahead.
In Australia, Dan Murphy’s, one of the country’s leading bottle shops, will have the following hours: on Good Friday, April 18, all stores will be closed. However, on Easter Saturday, April 19, all stores will be open, though some may operate with slightly different hours. Easter Sunday, April 20, will see all stores closed again, but on Easter Monday, April 21, they will reopen, again with potential variations in hours.
Specifically, in New South Wales (NSW), all Dan Murphy’s stores will adhere to this schedule. The same pattern applies in Victoria (VIC), Queensland (QLD), Western Australia (WA), South Australia (SA), the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and Tasmania (TAS). Customers can check specific store hours through Dan Murphy’s website.
Liquorland, Vintage Cellars, and First Choice also follow similar hours. In NSW, all these stores will be closed on Good Friday, but open on Easter Saturday. Some Liquorland locations will open on Easter Sunday, including stores in Narellan, Macarthur Square, and others, while Vintage Cellars in Terrigal will also be open. All stores will be open again on Easter Monday.
In the ACT, all these retailers will be closed on Good Friday but will operate normally from Easter Saturday through Easter Monday. In VIC, while most stores will be closed on Good Friday, Liquorland in Abbotsford and First Choice in Bairnsdale will remain open. Easter Saturday through Easter Monday will see all stores open.
In QLD, all stores will be closed on Good Friday but will open on Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday, with some exceptions for specific locations. WA follows the same pattern, with all stores closed on Good Friday and open on the following days.
In SA, all stores will be closed on Good Friday, but open on Easter Saturday and Sunday, with some exceptions for specific locations. TAS will have most stores closed on Good Friday, but open from Easter Saturday through Easter Monday.
Over in the UK, supermarkets are also adjusting their hours for the Easter weekend. Aldi, for instance, will be open as usual on Good Friday and Easter Saturday from 8am until 10pm, but will close on Easter Sunday. On Easter Monday, Aldi will operate from 8am to 8pm.
Tesco will maintain regular hours on Good Friday, but some branches may close earlier than usual. All Tesco superstores will be closed on Easter Sunday, although many Tesco Express stores will be open. On Easter Monday, most Tesco locations will be open but may operate under reduced hours.
Asda will also close about 1,100 stores on Easter Sunday, while remaining open on Good Friday and Easter Monday from 7am to 10pm. Sainsbury’s will follow a similar pattern, with larger stores closed on Easter Sunday, but local stores will be open for limited hours.
Marks & Spencer stores will be closed on Easter Sunday, with a small number of Simply Food and Food to Go locations remaining open between 9am and 6pm. Most Waitrose stores will also be shut on Easter Sunday, except for a few Little Waitrose shops.
In addition to these closures, the Sunday Trading Act 1994 mandates that larger supermarkets in England and Wales must close on Easter Sunday. This applies to any store larger than 280 square meters. However, smaller shops, such as convenience stores, are not subject to these restrictions and may remain open.
In New Zealand, the situation is similar, with special restrictions affecting Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990, most businesses must cease trading on these days. However, some shops, like dairies and service stations, can open under certain conditions. Most supermarkets will be closed on Good Friday, with some area exemptions allowing limited trading.
Overall, as the Easter long weekend approaches, consumers are encouraged to check the specific opening hours of their local stores to avoid any last-minute disappointments. With varying rules across regions and retailers, planning ahead is essential for securing those last-minute Easter essentials.
