Sunday Trading Registration

Following the introduction of the Sunday Trading Act in 1994 there have been no restrictions on shopping hours - apart from Sundays.  All shops are now able to open without restrictions between Monday and Saturday.

Restrictions on opening times on Sundays are now confined to large shops (defined under the Act as those having an internal sales area of over 280 square metres.

Large shops must

• be registered with the council for trading on a Sunday and
• specify the six hours of trading on a Sunday which must be between the hours of 10.00 to 18.00 hrs and
• provide a sign visible both internally and externally specifying the times of trading

They are required to remain closed on Easter Sunday (and on Christmas Day when it falls on a Sunday)

The District Council keeps a public register of the large shops operating in its area, which can be viewed upton request.  Small shops are not covered by these restrictions and can open freely.

Apart from the restrictions mentioned above, it is left to individual owners to determine their opening hours in the light of customer demand

In order to apply for a Sunday trading Registration traders need to download and complete an application form and provide details of the shop and your intended opening house on a Sunday.  Please note that if a shop is smaller than 280 square metres an application is not required

Once the application has been accepted, the council will arrange for the registration to be entered on the register

Exemptions

• Public Houses, Off-Licenses and Take-aways (opening hours for these are governed by their licence requirements)
• Chemists and Pharmacies (where only medical goods are sold)
• Shops in railway stations
• Petrol filling stations and service areas
• Motor accessory shops
• Farm shops
• Exhibition stands