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Are shops open on Early May Bank Holiday?
One retailer has been voted the cheapest in Britain
THE MAY bank holiday is a chance to spend time with family and to catch up on some much needed rest.
However, several major supermarkets will be reducing their hours over the holiday which coincides with VE Day 2025.
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Tesco
Most of Tesco's stores will retain their regular opening hours on May 5, 2025.
In England, this means they will open at 8am before shutting again at 6pm.
Tesco's Scotland stores will remain open until 8pm, where the chain's Northern Irish branches will close at 6pm.
Opening times for Tesco's Express stores vary, so you will need to ask in-store for more details.
Read more on bank holiday news
Alternatively, you can check the Tesco app for more details.
Asda
Asda will not be adjusting their opening hours over the bank holiday, meaning that customers can shop with ease on May 5.
However, as the holiday will coincide with many of the UK's Victory in Europe (VE) Day celebrations, local stores may vary their hours.
Checking the Asda app ahead of time is a great way to get the exact opening times of your local store.
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Aldi
Aldi has won the UK's cheapest supermarket award for four years in a row (as of April 2025).
The budget-friendly chain was found to be £75 cheaper than Waitrose - the most expensive chain - when it comes to shopping for essentials.
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The German-owned retailer has confirmed that their stores will be open as normal on the bank holiday weekend, from 8am to 10pm.
However, they will close their doors two hours early on May 5.
Lidl
Normally, Lidl remains open over the May bank holiday so shoppers can buy their favourite groceries for their day off.
Lidl opens at 8am and shuts at 10pm, but shoppers are advised to check the brand's app ahead of May 5.
The budget-friendly supermarket is known for its popular bakery, as well as its quirky "middle-aisle" which features luxury homeware such as a hanging egg chair.
Co-op
Co-op's wide network of stores will remain open over the May 5 bank holiday.
However, some stores may vary their hours so it is best to ask a member of staff for more details.
The shop made headlines in December 2024, when it announced that it would be cutting its popular reward scheme.
This means points earned from in-store purchases can no longer be redeemed for Co-Op vouchers.
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Waitrose
Waitrose has long held the title of Britain's leading luxury supermarket, as well as the country's most expensive (according to Which? in 2024).
The chain of supermarkets will retain their regular opening hours over the May bank holiday, despite closing entirely on Easter Sunday.
This means they will open at 8am before closing at 8pm, as usual.
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Morrisons
Morrisons will be keeping most of its stores open on May 5, 2025, as the country enjoys a day off ahead of VE Day.
The supermarket operates nearly 500 stores across the UK, providing high-end food for low prices.
However, the chain made headlines in April 2025, when it announced that it would be closing 16 of its Morrisons Daily locations.
Morrisons announced that the closures were part of a restructuring plan to cut costs, as high street rent prices soar.
Sainsbury's
Like many other UK supermarkets, Sainsbury's will be open as normal over the May bank holiday.
Their local stores and petrol stations will also remain open on May 5, 2025.
The supermarket regularly goes viral for its wide range of homeware and garden furniture, including plants which cost just 1p.
In 2025, Sainsbury's closed its popular chain of cafes in a bid to cut costs.
Over 61 coffee shops were axed during the cuts in supermarkets across the country.
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M&S
M&S often varies its hours for bank holidays, reducing its opening times to give its workers some well-earned time off.
Although the supermarket has yet to confirm its May opening times (as of April 29, 2025), M&S normally follows a bank holiday pattern.
Most supermarkets will open at 8:30pm before shutting early at 6pm.
Ask in-store for more details about your local stores opening times.
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Home Bargains
Home Bargains was first launched in Liverpool and has grown to have over 600 stores in the UK.
The chain is known for its wide range of cheap goods, including beautiful garden furniture and dupes of luxury items.
Home Bargains has not announced its bank holiday opening times, but its stores normally open at 9am and close at 6pm on national holidays.
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B&Q
B&Q will be open over the bank holiday, as Brits often use the extra day off to do some much needed DIY.
Local stores may adjust their opening hours, so it would be wise to ask for more details in store.
The chain of homeware stores offers a wide range of home items, including barbecues and olive trees, as well as power tools and paints.
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Ikea
Ikea has become legendary for its easy-to-assemble furniture and quirky approach to design.
The Swedish store normally opens on bank holiday but does operate under reduced hours.
Often, Ikea stores open at 10am and close at 7pm on national holidays.
To check the opening hours of your local Ikea store, use their website's store locator.
Screwfix
Most of Screwfix's stores will open at 7am and will close at 8pm, as normal.
However, some branches including its Brentford, Ilford, and Ringwood stores have been known to vary their opening times on bank holidays.
Check in-store to see when your local shop closes.
Bank holidays in the UK
There are still several bank holidays for shoppers to look forward to in 2025.
Although Northern Ireland and Scotland have some extra dates, the bank holiday schedule is largely the same across the UK.
England and Wales
- May 5, 2025 - Early May bank holiday
- May 26, 2025 - Spring bank holiday
- August 25, 2025 - Summer bank holiday
- December 25, 2025 - Christmas Day
- December 26, 2025 - Boxing Day
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Scotland
- May 5, 2025 - Early May bank holiday
- May 26, 2025 - Spring bank holiday
- August 25, 2025 - Summer bank holiday
- December 1, 2025 - St Andrew's Day
- December 25, 2025 - Christmas Day
- December 26, 2025 - Boxing Day
Northern Ireland
- May 5, 2025 - Early May bank holiday
- May 26, 2025 - Spring bank holiday
- July 14, 2025 - Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) (substitute day)
- August 25, 2025 - Summer bank holiday
- December 1, 2025 - St Andrew's Day (substitute day)
- December 25, 2025 - Christmas Day
- December 26, 2025 - Boxing Day
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