Retailers, restaurants and other businesses across the UK have revealed changes to opening hours on Sunday and Monday to help staff and customers enjoy England’s Euro 2024 final. England will play Spain in the final of the football tournament on Sunday at 8pm in Berlin, Germany.
Lidl, the German-owned discount retailer, has said all of its 800 UK shops will open later on Monday regardless of the outcome of the final. It has told staff and shoppers that it will push back its opening times on Monday by an hour, with stores typically moving back from 8am to 9am, although shoppers have been advised to check with their local store.
Elsewhere, Sainsbury’s has said it will close its convenience shops and petrol stations early to allow employees to watch the big match. The retailer said more than a thousand branches will shut at 7.30pm on Sunday, moving forward usual closing times of 10pm or 11pm.
Clodagh Moriarty, chief retail and technology officer said, “We want to give our colleagues the chance to tune in live and cheer on England with friends and family.” Tesco already said ahead of England’s semi-final victory against the Netherlands that it would shut its Express shops early for an England final.
More than 1,800 Express stores will close at 7.30pm instead of the usual 10pm or 11pm to allow employees to watch. Elsewhere, many restaurants have also said they will close their doors during the game so staff can enjoy the final.
Restaurant entrepreneur Richard Caring said he will shut Bill’s restaurants and 26 of his Ivy restaurants at 7pm on Sunday. It said around 5,000 staff members will benefit from the early closure for the final.
A spokesman for Richard Caring said: “We are thrilled for the England team and it is a great chance for our staff, who have worked so hard through some very difficult times recently, to be able to watch the game. It is the first final for England outside of this country and they will now have many more voices cheering them on to what we hope will be a fantastic victory.”