// Primark’s post-lockdown plans in England features extended trading hours ahead of the festive season
// Primark will re-open its 153 stores in England on December 2, when lockdown is lifted
// There’ll be extended opening hours in all stores, with some stores trading until midnight & 24-hour trading in 11 stores
Primark has confirmed it will reopen its stores in England when lockdown ends on December 2, along with details on extended trading hours – including 11 stores which will open 24 hours.
The value fashion retailer said the extended trading hours – which will apply to all of its stores – aim to cater for the anticipated higher customer demand ahead of Christmas and to help safely reduce queues by spreading shopping hours over a longer period of time.
Primark said its stores located in retail parks and major shopping centres will trade until 10pm at a minimum, with some stores trading as late as midnight.
READ MORE:
- John Lewis outlines plans for reopening stores in England
- Tesco to implement 24-hour opening times in over 300 stores
- Sainsbury’s to extend opening hours as Christmas nears
The retailer added that 11 stores will open for 24 hours from 7am on December 2, right through until closing time on December 3.
All other stores across England will trade until at least 8pm on weekdays until December 23.
Primark highlighted that in line with government guidance, all of its stores will continue to have extensive safety measures in place, including strict social distancing protocols, limits on the number of customers allowed in store, hand sanitisation stations on entry, perspex screens or cubicles at tills, the use of face masks in-store, and increased in-store cleaning.
“We are delighted to re-open our stores in England on 2 December, with longer shopping hours to give our customers more time to safely do their festive shopping,” Primark chief executive Paul Marchant said.
“We have everything this season that our customers expect from Primark, including our famous Christmas jumpers, festive pyjamas and much, much more.
“All of our extensive safety measures remain in place to help ensure shopping at Primark is an enjoyable, safe experience for everyone.”
Primark is not the first retailer to introduce 24 hour trading times, with Tesco already confirming similar plans for 300 of its stores.
Other retailers that have also introduced extended trading hours include Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, and John Lewis.
Confirmed Primark UK opening hours from December 2
During December, Primark’s UK stores will trade to a minimum of 8pm on weekdays:
• Town high street stores will trade until 8pm
• Town shopping centre stores will trade until 8pm
• Retail parks will trade until 10pm as a minimum, with the following stores trading until midnight: Charlton, York Monks Cross, Banbury, Edinburgh Fort
• Major shopping centres will trade until 10pm as a minimum, with the following stores trading;
o Until 11pm: Meadowhall, Bluewater, Lakeside, Metro, White City, Stratford
o Until Midnight: Leeds White Rose, Braehead, Trafford
• Major high street stores, the majority will trade until 10pm, with the following stores trading;
o Until 9pm: Belfast Bank, Belfast Fountain house, Bristol, Nottingham
o Until 11pm: Oxford Street East, Oxford Street West
24-hour trading: Primark will trade in the following stores from 7am on Wednesday, December 2 and trade 24 hours through until normal closing time on Thursday, December 3:
• Trafford
• York Monks Cross
• Leeds White Rose
• Bluewater
• Lakeside
• Birmingham Fort
• Meadowhall
• Stratford
• White City
• Charlton
• Gateshead Metrocentre
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