Primark Stores to shut all shops across England for more than 24 hours next month
primark stores will close across England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Easter Sunday (April 5), the retailer has confirmed, forcing a shutdown that stretches for more than 24 hours in many locations. The move affects shoppers planning Easter weekend trips to major high streets and shopping centres across the regions named. Scotland branches remain exempt from the restriction under current trading rules.
Primark Stores: What will close and when
Every Primark location in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be closed on Easter Sunday (April 5). Most branches typically trade until around 10: 00 PM ET on the Saturday before Easter and are expected to reopen at around 8: 00 AM ET on Easter Monday, creating a continuous closure that exceeds 24 hours in many cases. The closure requirement stems from the Sunday Trading Act 1994, which bars large shops over 280 square metres from opening on Easter Sunday. Because many primark stores exceed that size threshold, they must remain shut for the day.
The retailer operates around 190 stores across the UK, and the nationwide pause on Easter Sunday will therefore touch hundreds of locations. Examples in the context include an urban store that will close at 8: 00 PM ET on the Saturday and reopen at 9: 00 AM ET on Easter Monday, producing a 37-hour closure for that site. Individual store opening and closing times will vary, with some branches trading different hours over the long weekend.
Immediate reactions
Primark spokesperson, Primark, confirmed the arrangement, saying: “On Easter Sunday only stores in Scotland will be open and all stores in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be closed. ” The retailer added in a separate statement that “Primark stores across the UK will be open across the Easter weekend, however on Easter Sunday only stores in Scotland will be open and all stores in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be closed. Stores may also be operating different hours to normal, so we recommend that customers check our website for their local store opening times before visiting to avoid disappointment. “
Shoppers planning last-minute purchases are being advised to visit earlier in the weekend or to wait until services resume on Easter Monday. Retail staff and local managers were not named in the available information, and no additional official comments were provided beyond the statements attributed to the retailer.
Quick context
The Easter Sunday restriction is governed by the Sunday Trading Act 1994 and applies to large shops over 280 square metres. Scotland is exempt from the same Easter Sunday trading restrictions, which is why stores north of the border will remain open while primark stores in the other nations close.
What’s next
Shoppers should plan trips around the extended closure window: arrive earlier in the weekend or schedule visits for Easter Monday when stores are expected to reopen around 8: 00 AM ET. The retailer has urged customers to check local opening hours ahead of travel to avoid disappointment; similar guidance applies to anyone affected by the closures of primark stores during the long weekend. Expect further local announcements from individual branches setting specific reopening times as the Easter weekend approaches.
