A MAJOR DIY chain is set to close 221 stores for a full 24 hours and give staff a break this Easter.
Wickes has revealed its Easter opening hours and will close all shops in England and Wales next Sunday.
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However, its branches in Scotland will remain open between 7am and 8pm.
Wickes shops across England, Wales and Scotland will open as usual on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
It is common practice for retailers to adjust their opening hours during bank holidays.
By law, shops in England and Wales larger than 280 square metres in size have to shut on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.
However, this does not apply to retailers in Scotland, hence why Wickes’ Scottish stores will be open on Easter Sunday.
Wickes’ Easter opening hours at its England and Wales stores will be as follows:
- Friday, April 18: 7am – 8pm
- Saturday, April 19: 7am – 7pm
- Sunday, April 20: Closed
- Monday, April 21: 7am – 8pm
These are the opening hours for its Scotland branches over Easter:
- Friday, April 18: 7am – 8pm
- Saturday, April 19: 7am – 7pm
- Sunday, April 20: 7am – 8pm
- Monday, April 21: 7am – 8pm
Of course, the opening hours for your local Wickes branch may vary from the above so it’s worth checking ahead of an Easter Bank Holiday visit.
You can use the retailer’s store locator tool to find your nearest store and its opening hours – wickes.co.uk/store-finder.
It comes after a number of other retailers and supermarkets revealed their Easter opening hours.
Aldi, Asda, B&M and Home Bargains are all shutting branches on Easter Sunday.
How many more UK bank holidays are there in 2025?
There are plenty of bank holidays to come in 2025:
England and Wales
- April 18, 2025 – Good Friday
- April 21, 2025 – Easter Monday
- 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
Scotland
- April 18, 2025 – Good Friday
- April 21, 2025 – Easter Monday
- 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 (substitute day)
- December 25, 2025 – Christmas Day
- December 26, 2025 – Boxing Day
Northern Ireland
- April 18, 2025 – Good Friday
- April 21, 2025 – Easter Monday
- 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 25, 2025 – Christmas Day
- December 26, 2025 – Boxing Day
Why do retailers close on Easter Sunday?
A legal mandate in England and Wales dictates that all store locations over 280 square metres are required to close on Easter Sunday.
The Sunday Trading Act 1994 restricts the opening hours of larger stores on Sundays.
Smaller shops, under 280 square metres, are not subject to this law but many still choose to close to give their staff a break.
These rules also apply to locations on Christmas Day.
Scotland does not have specific restrictions on operating hours for these days.
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