Why can shops open for normal hours on a Sunday?
In England and Wales Sunday trading is governed by the Sunday Trading Act 1994. This was a compromise between those who wanted unrestricted trading laws and those who wanted all shops to shut on a Sunday. Under this act, all shops with fewer than 280 square metres (approx. 3000sq. ft.) of trading space are totally unrestricted with regard to hours of trade. Larger stores are restricted to six continuous hours between 10am and 6pm unless they are in an exempted class. Exempted shops include motor factors and cycle shops, pharmacies (for the sale of medicines only), farm shops and off licences. Off licences are exempted because they are dealt with by separate legislation. Bizarrely under current alcohol laws, it’s possible to have a large off licence trading 24/7 but a supermarket that must close for 18 hours on a Sunday!
