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Easter opening hours 2018: When are supermarkets open over the bank holiday weekend

Start planning your Easter food shop now

Wednesday 28 March 2018 09:30 BST

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Easter weekend is fast approaching, which means eager chocoholics and egg aficionados alike will soon be flocking to supermarkets to ensure their fridge is fully prepped for the four-day-long holiday ahead.

While most supermarkets shut up shop for Easter Sunday itself, which falls on April 1, the majority operate on reduced hours on the surrounding dates.

For a full rundown of what's open when, see our handy guide below.

• Good Friday, March 30 (bank holiday) - Normal opening hours at all stores.

• Saturday March 31 - Normal opening hours at all stores.

• Easter Sunday, April 1 - Most stores will be closed.

• Easter Monday, April 2 (bank holiday) - Stores in England and Wales will open from 9am to 6pm.

Sainsbury’s

• Good Friday, March 30 (bank holiday) - Normal opening hours at all stores.

• Saturday March 31 - All stores open but opening hours may vary.

• Easter Sunday, April 1 - Stores in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be closed aside from convenience stores and petrol filling station stores. Stores in Scotland will stay open for the day.

• Easter Monday, April 2 (bank holiday) - Some stores will be open for shorter periods of time but the majority will return to normal operating hours.

The changing face of the British shopping basket

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1/12The changing face of the British shopping basket

The changing face of the British shopping basket

The nation's shopping basket

The 'shopping basket' of items making up the suite of consumer price inflation indices are reviewed every year. Some items are taken out of the basket, some are brought in, to reflect changes in the market and to make sure the indices are up to date and representative of consumer spending patterns. Over 700 goods and services go in the basket to try and accurately reflect household spending. The prices of each item are then tracked over time to measure inflation, or the rate at which prices are rising or falling. Here is how it has changed since 1947.

The changing face of the British shopping basket

1947: Milk, Tea and bread

Many items have been in the basket for a very long time: milk, bread and tea have been there since 1947.

The changing face of the British shopping basket

1956: The tin kettle

If tea has been in our baskets since 1947, the tin kettle dropped out of the list in 1956. It was replaced by the electric kettle in 1987.

The changing face of the British shopping basket

1962: The mangle

The mangle, used to press or flatten sheets, tablecloths, kitchen towels, or clothing and other laundry, disappeared from the nation's shopping basket in 1962.

The changing face of the British shopping basket

1987: The microwave

The microwave made its appearance on the list in 1987. It was added with the vacuum cleaner, the washing machine, the hairdryer and the electric kettle among others.

The changing face of the British shopping basket

1987: Radiosets

Radiosets disappeared from the nation's shopping basket in 1987.

The changing face of the British shopping basket

2001: Credit card fees

Credit card fees appeared on the list in 2011.

The changing face of the British shopping basket

2007: The VHS video recorder

The VHS video recorder disappeared in 2007, coincidentally the Blu-Ray player was added to the list in 2010.

The changing face of the British shopping basket

2014: DVD recorder

The DVD recorder was removed in 2014 due to recording alternatives.

The changing face of the British shopping basket

2014: Video-streaming service subscription

Kevin Spacey appears in a scene from Netflix series “House of Cards.” A video-streaming service subscription was included in 2014’s virtual shopping basket.

The changing face of the British shopping basket

2015: Electronic cigarette refills/liquid

Electronic cigarette refills were introduced due to the increase in expenditure as more people are using e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid.

The changing face of the British shopping basket

2016: Coffee-pods

People are making coffee at home rather than buying it out, thanks to the popularity of coffee pods, which made the list for the first time this year.

Aldi

• Good Friday, March 30 (bank holiday) - Stores will open from 8am - 8pm.

• Saturday March 31 - Stores will open from 8am - 10pm.

• Easter Sunday, April 1 - All stores will be closed.

• Easter Monday, April 2 (bank holiday) - Stores will open from 8am - 8pm.

• Good Friday, March 30 (bank holiday) - Normal opening hours at all stores.

• Saturday March 31 - Normal opening hours at all stores.

• Easter Sunday, April 1 - All stores will be closed.

• Easter Monday, April 2 (bank holiday) - Stores will open from 8am to 7pm.

• Good Friday, March 30 (bank holiday) - Most stores will be open from 8am - 7pm with some Little Waitrose shops opening from 7am - 9pm.

• Saturday March 31 - Normal opening hours at all stores.

• Easter Sunday, April 1 - All stores in England and Wales will be closed.

• Easter Monday, April 2 (bank holiday) - Most stores will be open from 8am - 7pm with some Little Waitrose shops opening from 7am - 9pm.

• Good Friday, March 30 (bank holiday) - All stores will operate as normal.

• Saturday March 31 - All stores will operate as normal.

• Easter Sunday, April 1 - All stores in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be shut but Scottish stores will be open as usual.

• Easter Monday, April 2 (bank holiday) - Most stores will be open but with slightly reduced hours.

Marks and Spencer

Opening days and hours over Easter (including Good Friday and Easter Monday) vary from store to store.

Customers should check in-store signage or on the online store locator for their local store's timings.

However, the majority of M&S stores will be closed on Easter Sunday.

The opening hours of stores over Easter will vary from store to store so the best way for customers to keep track of when their local store is open is via the Asda Store Locator.

However, all stores will be closed on Easter Sunday.

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