Since Saturday’s confirmation that Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will take place on Monday, September 19, many businesses and services have said they will be reducing operations or closing all or part of the day out of respect.
With the announcement of a bank holiday, many employers are giving employees a full day off and most stores will be closed. So when does it open on Monday and when?
For those trying to buy essentials, options are severely limited before 5pm, with only a handful of major stores open even after the cut-off time.
Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons will be closed throughout the day. Waitrose will close all stores except a few near the parade route. Asdas is only open after 5pm and does not offer online delivery. Larger stores at Sainsbury’s and Tesco will be closed throughout the day, with the exception of some stores in central London and Windsor. Sainsbury Local and petrol stations and Tesco Express will be open after 5pm.
Most stores will be closed, with major department stores including Harrods, House of Fraser, John Lewis and Selfridges announcing plans to close for the day. Other retailers confirmed to close include Argos, B&Q, Currys, Homebase, IKEA, Jack Wills, Primark, Specsavers and Wilko.
entertainment
For those looking to get away from mourning, options will be limited. Cinema chains Odeon, Cineworld and Showcase will be closed. Vue Cinemas will not be showing any films, but patrons at certain locations will be able to watch the funeral for free.
Many theatrical performances, such as “Hamilton” and “The Book of Mormon” in London’s West End, will not be staged that day. Fans of 10-pin bowling can head to the Hollywood Bowl after 1.30pm. While Better Gym will be closed all day, PureGym will be open before 10am and after 2pm.
Centre Parcs has faced backlash for saying it will close its UK site for 24 hours on Monday, backtracking after facing allegations of “ruining people’s holidays”. The company said it had “reviewed our position that a very small number of guests will not leave on Monday, and we will allow them to remain in our village without having to leave and return on Tuesday,” although no facilities will be available at its resorts, So they get a discount.
hospitality
Most pub chains have been confirmed to open on Monday, including most of the Fuller Group’s 400-plus pubs and 44 operated by JW Lees. Some bars, such as those in the Greene King chain, will open early from 11am to screen funerals. JD Wetherspoon said most of its stores would be open later than usual, but after funerals.
Greggs stores will be closed for the day, while McDonald’s said it will close its UK restaurants during the day before reopening at 5pm.
travel
Flights to and from Heathrow will be suspended for half an hour on Monday so as not to disrupt the two-minute silence at the end of the funeral. The UK’s largest airport will also stop arrivals in the early afternoon to avoid landings over the west of the capital during the Queen’s hearse parade, and will stop taking off later to avoid disrupting the ceremonial procession to Windsor.
For those looking to take a road trip, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco will close their petrol station front yards, with some re-opening at 5pm. Only a handful of Tesco self-service petrol stations will reopen at night, and customers are advised to check their local petrol station.
