After the Christmas festivities many shoppers are thinking about stocking up on groceries and household essentials ahead of the start of 2021.
With the New Year fast approaching most major supermarkets will remain open, however many will be operating reduced hours.
All the supermarket chains that are closing on New Year's Day will return to normal hours on 2 January - giving shoppers plenty of time to re-fill the fridge (and the wine rack).
As essential retailers, supermarket chains are allowed to remain open under Tier 4 restrictions. Unlike thousands of non-essential shops, pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, gyms and entertainment venues, which have been forced to close under the rules.
With added disruption caused by new areas being moved into higher tiered lockdowns and closures, shoppers should double check opening times below before heading out avoid any disappointment.
New Year 2021 supermarket opening times
Morrisons
Morrisons extended opening hours over the festive period, customers are advised to check groceries.morrisons.com to find out exact timings for their local store over New Year's Eve.
Customers can also use online click and collect services and home delivery via Amazon and Deliveroo.
- 31 December - Most stores will open between 7am and 6pm
- 1 January - Most stores open between 9am and 6pm.
- 2 January - normal opening times
- 3 January - normal Sunday opening times
Tesco
Major supermarket chain Tesco extended the opening hours of over 300 stores ahead of Christmas to help eager shoppers.
Shoppers should use the Tesco store locator tool online to find out New Year hours for their local store before heading out.
- 31 December - Most superstores will open between 6am and 8pm
- 1 January - Most stores open between 9am and 6pm. However some superstores will be closed.
- 2 January - Most superstores will open between 6am and 11pm
- 3 January - Most superstores will open normal Sunday trading hours
Asda
Asda decided not to open its 631 stores across the UK on Boxing Day. The chain will open stores on New Year's Day but shoppers are being advised to check the Asda website to find out exact opening times.
31 December - Most larger stores will open from 6am to 7pm
1 January - Most stores open from 10am to 5pm
2 January - all stores open normal hours
3 January - all stores open normal Sunday trading hours
Aldi
Aldi stores will be closing earlier than normal on New Year's Eve and will be shut on New Year's Day. Check below for general opening hours or head online for exact details for your local store.
31 December - all stores will open from 8am to 6pm.
1 January - all stores will be closed.
2 January - all stores open from 8am to 10pm.
3 January - all stores open normal Sunday trading hours
Lidl
Budget chain Lidl has advised shoppers looking for the most accurate opening and closing times details to check the online store finder.
31 December - all stores in London (inside M25) will open from 8am to 8pm. All stores across the rest of the UK will open from 8am to 6pm.
1 January - all stores in London (inside M25) will open from 10am to 7pm. All other stores across the rest of the UK will be closed.
2 January - all stores open normal hours
3 January - all stores open normal Sunday hours
Sainsburys
Sainsburys stores have remained open throughout the festivities, however many stores will be operating reduced hours on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
The chain has said customers should always consult its online store locator tool to check details for their local branch.
31 December - most larger stores will open from 7am to 7pm.
1 January - larger stores will open from 9am - 7pm.
2 January - all stores open normal hours
3 January - all stores open normal hours
Waitrose
Upmarket chain Waitrose has confirmed all stores will be closed on New Year's Day.
The retailer is advising customers check times of individual shops by using the branch finder page on the website.
31 December - majority of shops will be open from 8am - 6pm
1 January - all stores are closed.
2 January - all stores open normal hours
3 January - all stores open normal hours
Are you shopping over the New Year? Tell us what you plan to spend on in the comments section below.
In the lead up to the festive break, major supermarket chains like Waitrose and Asda opted to close over Boxing Day, giving staff more time at home with their loved ones. They were joined by other big brands like Marks and Spencer, Wickes and John Lewis also decided to close stores.
Many retailers have been forced to move end of year sales online to deal with store closures and restrictions currently in place. Although thousands of shoppers flocked to high streets across the country on December 26.
Speaking about the Boxing Day sales, Joshua Bamfield, the director of the CRR, said the latest restrictions had “devastated the retail prospects for non-essential retailers in those areas”.
He confirmed retail spending figures will be much lower than normal due to the rules in place, adding: “The total spending figure would be even lower except for the fact that shoppers will increasingly turn to online sellers, especially those in tier 4 areas. Online sales are predicted to increase 56 per cent from 2019 to 2020, which is positive in light of everything else.”
