High street retailer Marks & Spencer is making a major change to its opening hours in the run up to Christmas .
M&S is introducing its longest ever store opening times for the final shopping days before Christmas this year, to ensure shoppers and staff have the time and space they need to social distance.
Around two-thirds of M&S stores will open until midnight from December 21 - 23, to give customers an extra bit of time to pick up their groceries and any final gifts they need for the big day.
Shops extending their opening hours include almost all of M&S’ food-only stores as well as its combined clothing and food stores on retail parks, while high street stores and in shopping centres will generally be open until 10pm.
Sacha Berendji, M&S’s retail, operations and property director said: “We want our customers to be able to shop with confidence this Christmas, which means supporting social distancing in our stores and minimal queueing outside as the weather gets colder.
“To help with this, our Sparks Book & Shop service is now live at every store and we’ll be operating our longest ever opening hours just before Christmas to help customers purchase everything they need to make the big day special - however they are celebrating - whether it’s picking up the turkey, or collecting a last minute present they’ve ordered online.
“Along with the wider industry, we continue to ask for Sunday trading hours to be extended to help us increase our capacity to serve everyone safely this festive season.”
To check your local store’s opening hours, visit the store finder on the M&S app.
