Supermarket opening times on Bank Holiday 19 September 2022

The day of the Queen’s funeral, Monday 19 September, has been declared a national bank holiday, which means there will be changes to opening hours for many shops and businesses in Manchester.

Government guidance issued on Saturday states that this day will operate as any other bank holiday, and while businesses will not be forced to shut for the occasion, they are encouraged “to respond sensitively to requests from workers who wish to take time off.”

Some shops will be closing, others will be operating on reduced opening times.

All large Tesco stores will close for the day, and their Express stores will open at 5pm, closing at the usual time.

Tesco’s online delivery services will also be suspended. Anyone with deliveries expected that day will be contacted about cancellations and asked to rebook.

Jason Tarry, Tesco UK CEO, said: “We want to express our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, as well as our gratitude to Her Majesty The Queen for her unwavering service.

“On Monday 19 September, in order for our colleagues to pay their respects, our large stores will be closed all day and our Express stores will remain closed until 5pm.”

The other big supermarket chains that will be shutting their stores include Aldi, Lidl and Sainsbury’s, which will also be suspending online grocery deliveries. Argos, a subsidiary of Sainsbury’s, will also close its stores and suspend delivery service.

Sainsbury’s petrol stations will be open 5-10pm.

Asda stores will also be closed from midnight on Sunday 18 September and reopen at 5pm on Monday 19 September, after the funeral. Online delivery services will be suspended on the Monday.

John Lewis and Waitrose stores will close, apart from a few Waitrose stores in London, which are located along the route of the funeral procession, although they will close for the funeral itself.

Similarly, a select number of M&S stores in London will remain open to service the crowds gathering for the funeral, but the rest will shut and online and delivery services will cease for the day.

M&S franchises in train stations, airports and hospitals will likely stay open.

Stuart Machin, CEO of M&S, said: “It is right that we make changes to our operational arrangements on the day of the funeral to ensure our colleagues across our stores and distribution network can participate, whilst supporting customers as they show their respects too.

“That’s why on Monday 19 September we will cease customer delivery services and close M&S owned stores in the UK for the entire day, with some limited exceptions in London and Windsor, which will close for the duration of the service.”

In the city centre, Selfridges will be shutting both their Exchange Square and Trafford centre stores for the day of the funeral.

Primark will also be closed.

Royal Mail has announced it will be suspending services on the day of the funeral.

Royal Mail CEO, Simon Thompson said: “We are proud that over the coming days Royal Mail will play an important role delivering messages of condolence from all around the world to the Royal family.

“We want to make our customers aware that services will be suspended on the day of the funeral as people come together to honour Her Majesty, after 70 years of exemplary service to the nation and the Commonwealth.”

Manchester World has contacted Asda and Morrisons for confirmation on whether their stores will be open on Monday 19 September.