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Sunday Trading
is controlled by the Sunday Trading Act 1994. The law: - controls
the Sunday opening hours of larger retail shops.
Exempts from control: - smaller
shops.
- certain types of shop.
- sale of meals for immediate consumption.
- shops
occupied by persons observing the Jewish Sabbath that are closed on Saturdays.
Larger
retail shops (those having an internal trading area of more than 280m2) can only open for a maximum
of 6 hours which must be between 1000 and 1800 hours, in one continuous period. A
notice must be displayed inside and outside the shop stating the Sunday trading hours. The
shop may not open on Easter Sunday or Christmas Day if this falls on a Sunday. Small
shops (having an internal trading area of up to 280m2) may open at any time on any Sunday. The
following categories of shops, irrespective of size, may trade at any time on any Sunday. - Farm
shops where only produce from that farm is sold;
- Public houses and off licences;
- Motor
and cycle supplies and accessories;
- Registered pharmacies, where the premises is
not open for the retail sale of any goods other than medicinal products and medical and surgical appliances;
- Any
shop in a railway station;
- Petrol filling stations;
- Shops occupied
by persons observing the Jewish Sabbath (closing on Saturdays) provided that notice has been given to
this Council.
- There
are no restrictions on the sale of meals for immediate consumption in restaurants or at takeaways.
- Separate
legislation such as the Licensing Act 2003 may impose controls on opening hours or the sale of alcohol
and late night hot food.
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