While Christmas may still be three months away, many shoppers have already started planning for the festive season.
Many high street retailers have already begun to stock up on the Christmas essentials and early bird shoppers will already be thinking ahead to Boxing Day.
Boxing Day is typically one of the busiest periods for many high street retailers and workers, as many shoppers dash to the shops to pick up last minute essentials and bargains as it is traditionally when all the big sales begin.
However, as the Coronavirus crisis has had an impact on families, many high street retailers and supermarkets have chosen to adjust their opening hours.
This has led many businesses to fully close their stores on December 26 so workers can spend more time with their nearest and dearest.
Aldi, Home Bargains, and Morrisons, are just some of the retailers that have announced they will be shutting up shop for this year's Boxing Day.
So, whether you need to make a last minute dash to the shops on the day, it is handy to know which stores are going to be open. While a few stores are yet to confirm this years festive opening hours, here is a list of all those who have confirmed they will be closing on Boxing Day 2021.
Aldi
The budget chain has announced on their website they will be closed on both Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
The supermarket usually closes on Boxing Day to give staff members time with their families, which will be even more important this year. However, it has announced extended hours for the run up to Christmas, to help families with the festive shop.
The store added on their website: "Good news everyone, we’re open longer this Christmas. In the run-up to Christmas Eve, we’ve extended our opening hours from 7am – 11pm Monday to Friday, just to make that whole Christmas shop a little easier for you."
Home Bargains
Home Bargains also announced it will close all of their UK stores on both Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
The discount retailer has also confirmed that they will be closing their store at the earlier time of 5pm this Christmas Eve, so staff can spend more time with their loved ones.
This will be the third year the store has chosen to keep its doors closed on Boxing Day, as they previously did so back in 2019 and 2020.
The retailer said it wants to give workers more time to spend with family and friends over the Christmas season this year.
Morrisons
Morrisons were the first retailer to announce that they will be closing all of their UK stores on this year's Boxing Day.
The supermarket announced their plans for this year's festive period back in April. The decision comes after the store chose to keep its stores open on Boxing Day last year, but it was voluntary for their staff members who also received double pay.
A spokesperson said: “We know everyone at Morrisons has worked incredibly hard over the last 18 months and continues to do so.
“Together we’ve responded to the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic, serving our customers and local communities, and caring so much for each other.
"We’ve been listening hard to colleagues about how best to say Thank You, and are really pleased to confirm that this year we will be closing all our supermarkets on Boxing Day, so as many of our key workers as possible can enjoy a two day weekend break with family, friends and other loved ones."
Sainsbury's
The supermarket chain has been the latest retailer to confirm that they will also be closing its doors on Boxing Day.
Sainsbury's have also made the decision to close all it's convenience stores and petrol stations.
The decision was made to recognise the 'extraordinary efforts' of their staff members during the pandemic and will benefit around 170,000 store workers.
Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer has also made the decision to close all of their stores across the UK to give their 700,000 staff members a break.
The high street giant announced on Twitter it would be closing all their stores on Boxing Day as a 'gift' to their staff members for all their hard work this year.
On Twitter the retailer said: "Our colleagues have been there for our customers during challenging circumstances this year. As a small thank you for their incredible hard work, we will once again be closing our operations on Boxing Day, enabling our colleagues to spend more time with loved ones."
Waitrose
Waitrose announced on their website that their stores will be closed on both Boxing Day and Christmas Day this year. The only exception will be Welcome Break motorway stations and Shell forecourts.
The supermarket have announced that this move is 'in line' with how they have previously operated during the festive period.
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