Sunday Trading Laws

schnipps · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:04

Is there really any need for these in the way we live our lives now? Why does the government feel the need to tell me i cant go grocery shopping after 5pm on a Sunday? Yes i have all week to do it but perhaps i want a last minute meal and some of the bits i need i realise i havent got and just want to nip out, what is the reasoning behind limiting the trading hours on sundays for large stores?

Nick1881 · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:05

I thought it was something between the stores and the church?

Feek · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:06

I used to like Sundays when the shops were closed.

Vampyre · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:07

Everything is open as normal in Scotland (except for some of the islands), always catches me out when I'm down there, I keep forgetting.

Beerbaron · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:08

church or shopping, i wonder what most people would prefer

schnipps · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:08

Feek said:
I used to like Sundays when the shops were closed.

Why though? If you dont intend to go to a shop anyway then you wont see it open or closed so it makes no difference, unless its for religious reasons i suppose. But then their are Tesco Express shops that are allowed to open until 11pm on Sundays, why arent the larger stores? Its just seems a bit weird in this day and age where everything is 24 hours.

Angleboy · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:11

Small shops with a floor area of up to 280 square metres (3,000 square feet) can choose their own Sunday opening hours. But they must be aware that staff who work on a Sunday may have special employment rights.

Many large shops with a floor area greater than this limit can only open for a set number of hours on a Sunday.

There are no restrictions on Sunday trading hours in Scotland.

Move up north and take a visit to scotland if you want to shop sunday night.

Mucky_Pup · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:12

Think it's a bit outdated now, case and example; I want something for my tea now, but there's nothing in that I fancy in the house, so short of ordering a takeaway there's nothing I can do, as I cant go buy stuff to cook.

schnipps · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:15

Mucky_Pup said:
Think it's a bit outdated now, case and example; I want something for my tea now, but there's nothing in that I fancy in the house, so short of ordering a takeaway there's nothing I can do, as I cant go buy stuff to cook.

This is the exact situation i am in, i want fajitas and i have bought the wrong dam kit in the week, and have only just realised. I want to go and get the one i like but i cant so now i either have to have that one i dont like, cook something else i dont fancy or get a take away. Dam it, i want my fajitas!!

Jingo... · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:20

Where I live 95% of places are closed on a Sunday - it doesn't bother me as I'm aware of such and so take action accordingly.

The markets are often on in the local village square on a Sunday morning which is always nice to have a nosey around amidst the unusually silent and unlit shops surround the precinct.

I'm not sure exactly why shops are closed come Sunday, but I strongly suspect it's a crossover between Religious history and nobody wishing to work Sundays!

SlyReaper · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:28

Go to the pub?

wez130 · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:28

I used to love it when shops were closed on a Sunday too, i don't think htere's any need for anywhere to open on a Sunday, it should be a family day. Same goes for Xmas day, it riles me that some Restaurants and pubs open for it, it's corporate greed and unfair for those that are 'forced' to work them, then they have the cheek to charge 4x the normal price for a meal, yet the staff don't get any extra (maybe bank holiday rate). And yes, i've been in this situation before and was practically forced to work.

Russinating · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:29

Never really had a problem, the Somerfield and Tesco Express by me are open until 11pm on a Sunday. And I don't shop anywhere else!

mac1st3 · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:32

because we want to bloody well go home!

Bet you're one of those people who goes into shops just as they're closing, while the staff are all aching to go home and sit down

TheVoice · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:35

wez130 said:
I used to love it when shops were closed on a Sunday too, i don't think htere's any need for anywhere to open on a Sunday, it should be a family day. Same goes for Xmas day, it riles me that some Restaurants and pubs open for it, it's corporate greed and unfair for those that are 'forced' to work them, then they have the cheek to charge 4x the normal price for a meal, yet the staff don't get any extra (maybe bank holiday rate). And yes, i've been in this situation before and was practically forced to work.

And for those of us that don't have families? We should just sit around and do nothing?

mctiny · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:37

Mucky_Pup said:
Think it's a bit outdated now, case and example; I want something for my tea now, but there's nothing in that I fancy in the house, so short of ordering a takeaway there's nothing I can do, as I cant go buy stuff to cook.

I'd suggest you be a little more prepared in future

.

Out here the "local" shops close at between 2-3pm every Sunday without fail, the shopping malls/centres are open from midday to 10pm on a Sunday. :confused:

It annoys me that I can't take a walk down the road and buy something on a Sunday afternoon/evening, but, ho hum it's the law, so I've had to adjust my life a little.

Droolinggimp · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:39

You can blame B n Q for the Sunday tradeing. They opened up one Boxing day against the wishes of the local council and the store was rammed all day with people buying stuff. The rest they say took off after that.. I cant link to a source its something an ex employee told me as he was studying Employment law at Uni.

Anyway to the OP what about the local 'corner shops' they are open till 10ish round here so probably same else where.

bigredshark · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:42

Personally I quite like it, not wild about the original reasons for it but it just seems like tradition now and changing it would just be giving in to commercialism mainly.

MrMoonX · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:49

I hate sundays, because I always need to go to tesco after 4 because i have forgotten something. Sunday trading laws are outdated and are a terrible thing, if I want to shop and people want to work then i dont see the problem

schnipps · 13 Dec 2009 at 18:54

Droolinggimp said:
Anyway to the OP what about the local 'corner shops' they are open till 10ish round here so probably same else where.

Ok for beer and toilet roll i suppose but fresh veg and more specialist things you cant get. Teso express isnt to bad but they dont stock much really.

I think its the principle of it though, people want to buy things, im sure people would want the extra hours, so why not.

24 hour drinking and not long ago 24 hour shopping through the week, im just suprised the major stores havent managed to get rid of this draconian sunday trading rubbish.