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CLOSING TIME
Another major retailer with over 300 branches confirms it will close ALL stores to give staff a break on Boxing Day
It is not the first retailer to confirm it will shut stores on December 26
ANOTHER major retailer has confirmed it will close its standalone stores on Boxing Day to give staff a well-earned break.
The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has exclusively told The Sun it will shut all its standalone John Lewis stores on December 25 and 26.
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Only its shops within the Trafford and Stratford shopping centres will remain open.
Meanwhile, the vast majority of Waitrose stores, also operated by the JLP, will close on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
That means over 300 Waitrose branches and 33 John Lewis sites will be closed to customers on December 26.
A handful of Waitrose shops attached to petrol stations will remain open on Boxing Day though.
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The vast majority of John Lewis and Waitrose branches will be closed on New Year's Day as well.
However, shoppers should check their local store's opening hours ahead of time to avoid any wasted journeys.
You can find your local store and its opening hours by using either Waitrose's or John Lewis' store locator tools on their websites.
It's common practice for shops across the UK to close on Christmas Day, but not all retailers shut branches on Boxing Day.
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It's not the first time John Lewis has shuttered branches on Boxing Day to give staff a well-earned break.
It has closed stores on December 26 for the last few years, including in 2023.
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It comes after Home Bargains confirmed it will shut all its 600 branches on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day this year.
The retailer also said its stores will close earlier on Christmas Eve, shuttering at 5pm instead of the usual 8pm or 9pm.
A number of chains closed their stores on Boxing Day last Christmas in a boost for workers.
DIY giants Wickes, Homebase and Screwfix all shut their branches on December 26, joined by supermarkets M&S and Lidl.
Poundland, which currently runs over 850 shops in the UK and Republic of Ireland, also closed its branches on Boxing Day.
If you're keen to find out whether your favourite retailer will close its branches on Boxing Day, it's worth keeping an eye on social media.
Chains often publicise their festive opening hours on X and Facebook.
You can also try using a retailer's store locator tool which should tell you the opening hours for your local branch.
CHRISTMAS GIFT
CLOSING shops on Christmas Day is a lovely gesture for staff, writes Tara Evans, Head of Consumer for The Sun.
Shops normally close on Christmas Day - but in recent years we've seen a handful of retailers also closing on Boxing Day and even December 27.
The retailers say it's to give staff a well-earned break - but the decision has been made easier now that more shoppers now hit the Boxing Day sales online.
Christmas is big business for retailers. They battle it out to win over customers and this year's festive season is more important than ever after last year where cash strapped consumers cut back.
Not only that, but it may have a number for you to call the shop and clarify any questions you may have about opening hours.
The latest announcement from the John Lewis Partnership comes after it revealed its iconic price match promise is back.
The posh retailer's Never Knowingly Undersold pledge was relaunched on Monday (September 9) allowing shoppers to be refunded the difference if they find a product cheaper at any number of other retailers.
John Lewis first launched the service in 1925 before scrapping it in 2022, as revealed exclusively by The Sun, after customers said it was too complicated and didn't include online retailers.
But the chain has said it brought back after clamour from customers.
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Today, the JLP said it was set for "significantly" higher annual profits as it reported pre-tax losses of £30 million for the six months to July 27, down 49% on the £59 million reported last year.
The group said while the consumer and economic backdrop was “uncertain”, it was confident of a marked improvement in underlying profits at the full-year stage.
How to check your local John Lewis store's opening hours
Retailers opening hours often vary from branch to branch, so it's worth checking before heading to your local store to avoid a wasted trip.
John Lewis, like many other chains, has a store locator tool you can use to find what time your nearest location opens: //www.johnlewis.com/our-shops
All you have to do is click on your shop and it will reveal its opening hours.
It should also tell about the store's facilities, including whether there is an on-site cafe and what types of products you can buy.
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