// Pets at Home and Wickes will close stores on Boxing Day
// Next, whose Boxing Day Sale attracts lots of customers, confirmed it will be open for business
// Bensons for Beds has also said it will be open
// On Thursday, M&S reversed on its decision to keep stores open on Boxing Day
Pets at Home and Wickes have joined Marks & Spencer in deciding to close their doors on Boxing Day as a “sign of appreciation” to their colleagues after a strenuous year.
The retailers have said their staff should take the time off to spend with their families after working hard during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pets at Home and Wickes have also joined the likes of John Lewis, which has a long tradition of closing on December 26 and starting its Sale online-only until the following day.
READ MORE: M&S reverses decision to keep stores open on Boxing Day
“As a small but tangible sign of our appreciation, I have decided to close all of our stores on Boxing Day this year to give our colleagues much-needed time with their families and loved ones,” Pets at Home boss Peter Pritchard said.
Last year, Homebase, Aldi and Home Bargains had joined the list of retailers closed on Boxing Day.
Meanwhile, Next, whose Boxing Day Sale attracts lots of customers, confirmed it will be open for business as it said it is able to operate safely and already has experience handling an in-store sale amid the pandemic.
Bensons for Beds has also said it will be open.
This year, government restrictions prohibit going shopping over the Christmas period from December 23 until December 27 if people are forming a bubble with other households.
On Thursday, M&S reversed on its decision to keep stores open on Boxing Day.
It had previously planned to open over 200 stores on the day, but has said it will close stores so that as many colleagues as possible can spend time with family and friends across both December 25 and 26.
The decision came after the government’s announcement this week to temporarily relax restrictions over the Christmas period.
M&S will now close all of its owned stores in the UK, as well as its Customer Contact centre and its Distribution Centre in Castle Donington.
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