On May 26, 2025, the UK observed the Spring Bank Holiday. Banks, schools, and government offices closed, giving people time for leisure and errands. Supermarkets became busy, with Aldi topping Google searches as shoppers checked its holiday hours.
Aldi stores in England and Wales opened at 8am but closed early at 8pm, unlike their usual 10pm closing. In Scotland, Aldi stayed open until 10pm, sparking online talks about the different closing times and driving traffic to the store locator tool.
Other supermarkets adjusted their hours too. Asda mostly stayed open until 10pm, but some closed at 5pm. Tesco’s large stores ran from 8am to 6pm or 8pm, while Express shops stayed open late.
Sainsbury’s big stores matched Aldi’s 8am to 8pm hours, but their Local shops stayed open until 11pm for evening shoppers. Lidl’s hours varied; most stores stayed open until 10pm, while some closed at 8pm. This led to more use of the Lidl Plus app for updates.
Morrisons opened between 7am and 8am, with most stores closing at 8pm but some staying open until 10pm. Petrol stations added extra hours. Co-op convenience stores stayed open from 7am to 10pm. Waitrose had varied hours, and some Little Waitrose shops stayed open until 10pm. Iceland mostly kept regular hours, with some earlier closings.
Car parks were busy as families bought barbecue items and students picked up snacks. Social media buzzed about Aldi’s early closing. By evening, stores closed, and the UK settled into holiday mode with grills fired up and fridges stocked after a well-planned supermarket rush.
