Following the introduction of the Sunday Trading Act in 1994 there have been no restrictions on shopping hours - apart from Sundays.  All shops are now able to open without restrictions between Monday and Saturday.

Restrictions on opening times on Sundays are now confied to large shops (defined under the Act as those having internal sales areas of over 280 square metres).  The critical consideration is the floor area definition, which is clarified as meaning the part of the shop within a building that is used for display of goods and customer services.

Large shops must:

• Specify the six hours of trading on a Sunday which must be between the hours of 10.00am and 6.00pm, and
• Provide a sign visible both internally and externally specifying the times of trading.

They are required to remain closed on Easter Sunday and on Christmas Day when it falls on a Sunday.

Small shops are not covered by these restrictions and can open freely.  The Sunday Trading Act 1994 also includes specific measures to protect the rights of shop workers who do not wish to work on Sundays.

Apart from the restrictions mentioned above, it is left to the individual owners to determine their opening hours in the light of customer demand.