You’ve got a list, the shops are quiet, and you wonder: is anything open near me right now? Over Easter, that question gets complicated fast. In England and Wales, large supermarkets are legally required to close on Easter Sunday, while in Scotland stores often trade as normal, according to Good Housekeeping UK (consumer advice publication). This guide walks through the opening policies of the biggest names — Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Centra and Dunnes Stores — so you can plan your next shop without the guesswork.

Tesco stores in the UK: over 2,000 ·
Aldi stores in the UK: over 900 ·
Lidl stores in the UK: over 950 ·
Centra stores in Ireland: over 400 ·
Dunnes Stores in Ireland: over 100

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact Easter hours for every individual store (varies by location) (Good Housekeeping UK)
  • Whether all Lidl stores enforce the £13 card rule (Daily Echo)
  • Future changes to Easter trading laws (Good Housekeeping UK)
3Timeline signal
  • Easter Sunday 2026 falls on April 5 (CBS News)
  • Good Friday 2026: April 3; Easter Monday: April 6 (CBS News)
4What’s next
  • Use store locators on official websites to confirm local hours
  • Check individual Facebook pages for small chains (e.g., Centra Rathnew)

Four key figures, one pattern: the largest chains provide guidelines, but the final answer lives at the store level.

Chain Store count Easter Sunday policy Easter Monday policy £13 card rule?
Tesco Over 2,000 UK Large stores closed; Express open (Good Housekeeping UK) Reduced hours Yes, at some self-checkouts (Daily Echo)
Aldi Over 900 UK Closed (Good Housekeeping UK) 8am – 8pm (example) Yes, at some self-checkouts
Lidl Over 950 UK Most stores closed (Good Housekeeping UK) Reduced hours Yes, under £13 at some locations
Centra Over 400 Ireland Many closed, check local (Centra Rathnew Facebook) Often open, reduced hours No
Dunnes Stores Over 100 Ireland Closed (Lovin Dublin) Typically open No

The pattern: discounters and large format stores shut on Easter Sunday; convenience formats and Express stores stay open. Always double-check.

The upshot

If you’re in England or Wales on Easter Sunday, your large supermarket will be locked. Shoppers there must rely on convenience stores or travel to Scotland, where restrictions are looser.

Is Centra open on Easter Monday?

What are Centra’s typical opening hours?

Centra stores are convenience-focused and often stay open later than supermarkets. Typical hours are 7am–10pm, but Easter Monday can see adjusted times. For example, Centra Rathnew (local store Facebook page) posted Easter weekend hours: Good Friday 7am–10pm, Easter Sunday closed, Easter Monday 8am–8pm. Over 400 Centra locations exist across Ireland (Centra official site), so local variation is common.

Where can I find my nearest Centra?

  • Use the Centra store locator (official site) for addresses and hours.
  • Check the store’s Facebook page for holiday notices.

“Centra Rathnew is open Easter Monday from 8am to 8pm. Easter Sunday we will be closed. Please check your local store for specific hours.”

Centra Rathnew Facebook post

Bottom line: Centra allows local managers to set Easter hours. Check the locator and Facebook before you go. Northern Ireland and Scotland: your Centra may have different rules. Irish shoppers: many Centra stores open Monday but closed Sunday. UK shoppers: Centra’s few UK locations (mostly Northern Ireland) follow local regulations.

Is Dunnes open on Easter Monday?

What are Dunnes Stores opening hours on Easter?

Dunnes Stores, a major Irish chain with over 100 stores, typically closes on Easter Sunday but reopens on Easter Monday with reduced hours. According to Lovin Dublin (Irish lifestyle news site), the chain publishes its Easter schedule store by store. Monday hours often run 9am–7pm, but shoppers should verify via the Dunnes store locator.

Does Dunnes close on Good Friday?

In Ireland, Good Friday is not a public holiday for retail, so Dunnes usually trades normal hours. However, some stores may open later or close earlier — confirm online.

“Dunnes Stores will close on Easter Sunday but operate on Easter Monday with adjusted hours. Check your local store’s page for the exact schedule.”

Lovin Dublin article (supermarket Easter guide)

Why this matters

Dunnes is the most popular generic grocery store in Ireland (Wikipedia). Knowing its Easter schedule affects hundreds of thousands of shoppers looking for stores open near them.

Do shops close on Easter Day?

What are the UK trading laws for Easter Sunday?

In England and Wales, the Sunday Trading Act 1994 restricts large shops (over 280 square metres) from opening on Easter Sunday. The law applies to supermarkets, department stores and most big retailers. Convenience stores under 280 sq m may open freely (Good Housekeeping UK). In Scotland, no such restriction exists — stores often open normal hours. Northern Ireland has its own set of rules, typically less restrictive than England and Wales.

Which stores stay open on Easter Sunday?

  • Small convenience stores (e.g., local Co-ops, SPAR, Tesco Express) can open.
  • Petrol station shops often trade as usual.
  • Large supermarkets like Tesco Extra, Asda, Sainsbury’s must close in England and Wales.
  • In Scotland: most large stores are open. For example, CBS News (US news outlet) notes that even in the US, ALDI closes Easter Sunday, while Walmart stays open.
Bottom line: In England and Wales, your big supermarket is off-limits on Easter Sunday. Scottish shoppers: you’re fine – normal hours. Shoppers across Ireland: the law is different but most large chains close voluntarily on Easter Sunday.

Who is bigger, Tesco or Lidl?

How many stores does Tesco have?

Tesco is the largest supermarket chain in the UK, with over 2,000 stores spanning Extra, Superstore, Metro and Express formats (Wikipedia list of UK supermarket chains). It holds the biggest market share by revenue.

How many stores does Lidl have?

Lidl operates over 950 stores in the UK (as of 2023, per Wikipedia). Its German sibling Aldi has over 900. Together they dominate the discount sector.

Which has higher revenue?

Tesco’s UK revenue is roughly £50 billion annually, far exceeding Lidl’s £8–10 billion. Tesco’s sheer scale means it can offer a broader range of products, while Lidl competes on price. The comparison is clear: Tesco wins on size, Lidl wins on value per basket.

Metric Tesco Lidl
UK store count Over 2,000 Over 950
UK annual revenue ~£50 billion ~£10 billion
Own brand strategy Extensive (Tesco Finest, etc.) Lean (mostly own-label)
Easter Sunday policy Large stores closed; Express open Most stores closed

The implication: Tesco’s network is more likely to have a small Express store open near you on Easter Sunday, while Lidl and Aldi are typically fully closed.

What is the 13 rule at Lidl?

What is the £13 rule at Aldi?

The “£13 rule” refers to a self-checkout policy at certain supermarkets: card payments only for transactions under £13. Daily Echo (local news outlet) reported that Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and others have adopted this to reduce cash handling costs. It’s not universal — some stores still accept cash below £13.

Why do supermarkets adopt a £13 rule?

Behind the policy is simple economics. Self-checkouts without cash drawers save on security and counting time. The £13 threshold is arbitrary but common. Shoppers paying with a £20 note on a £12 basket may need to use the manned till instead.

Bottom line: The £13 rule is real but spotty. Card-only shoppers: you’re fine. Cash users: check if your local Lidl or Aldi enforces it before you pair a small shop with a crisp £20.

How to find stores open near me: a step-by-step guide

  1. Use official store locators – Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Centra and Dunnes all have locators with individual store hours.
  2. Check for Easter-specific notices – Many chains post holiday schedules on their website or social media.
  3. Use Google Maps – Search “supermarket open now near me”. Google pulls real-time hours when available.
  4. Call ahead – For smaller chains like Centra, a quick call saves a wasted trip.
  5. Look for “open on Easter Sunday” lists – Publications like Good Housekeeping UK compile them.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s still uncertain

Confirmed facts

  • Tesco has over 2,000 UK stores (Wikipedia)
  • Large shops in England and Wales must close on Easter Sunday (Good Housekeeping UK)
  • Centra and Dunnes have specific Easter hours published locally (Centra Rathnew Facebook; Lovin Dublin)

What’s unclear

  • Exact hours for every store – always check local
  • Whether all Lidl stores enforce the £13 rule
  • Future changes to Easter trading legislation

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Frequently asked questions

How can I find stores open near me?

Use store locators on official websites (e.g., Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Centra, Dunnes). Google Maps also shows real-time hours. For Easter specifically, check holiday schedule pages.

Is Lidl the sister of Aldi?

Yes and no. Aldi is split into Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd. Lidl is owned by the Schwarz Group in Germany, not directly related to Aldi. They are competitors, not siblings.

What is Aldi called in Ireland?

Aldi operates as Aldi Ireland, legally Aldi Stores (Ireland) Limited. It has over 100 stores in the Republic (Aldi Ireland).

What is the most popular store in Ireland?

SuperValu and Dunnes Stores are the largest grocery retailers in Ireland, each with over 20% market share (Wikipedia).

Is the owner of Lidl a billionaire?

The Schwarz family, owners of the Schwarz Group (Lidl’s parent), are among the richest in Germany, with a net worth exceeding €40 billion (Forbes Billionaires).

For shoppers in the UK and Ireland, the choice is clear: check your local store’s hours online before heading out, or risk finding locked doors. For the forgetful, the only open option might be the petrol station — or a well-stocked kitchen from the day before.