With festive lists growing and wallets tight, British shoppers face a nationwide schedule shift that could reshape late-December habits.
The bargain chain has confirmed a seasonal pause that changes the rhythm of the high street. Plan your baskets, stocking-fillers and last-minute top-ups with new dates in mind.
What has changed for customers
Home Bargains will close every UK branch on three key days over the festive period and adjust hours on Christmas Eve. The move, agreed at the retailer’s annual conference, aims to give colleagues a genuine break at the busiest time of year for retail.
All 600 stores will close on Christmas Day (25 December), Boxing Day (26 December) and New Year’s Day (1 January). On Christmas Eve, doors shut at 5pm.
| Date | Status | Notes for shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| 24 December (Christmas Eve) | Open with early close | Trading ends at 5pm. Expect queues from mid-afternoon. |
| 25 December (Christmas Day) | Closed | No in-store shopping. |
| 26 December (Boxing Day) | Closed | Unusual for value chains; plan sales hunting elsewhere. |
| 1 January (New Year’s Day) | Closed | Reopens on 2 January with normal hours. |
Why the retailer is taking a break
Home Bargains, run by Liverpool-based TJ Morris Ltd, says the closure is about people, not just trading hours. Leadership wants staff to spend time with family and friends after a long year on the tills and in the stockrooms.
The company has grown from a single Liverpool shop in 1976 to more than 600 branches nationwide, employing over 28,500 people. That scale means the decision is felt in every region, from retail parks to high streets.
“Family-run” is not just branding here; the chain is giving shop teams time back during the most socially demanding week of the year.
How this affects your festive planning
The three-day shutdown changes the usual Boxing Day dash and the first-day-of-the-year tidy-up shop. Many households rely on the chain for budget-friendly food, toiletries, cleaning products and last-minute toys. With doors closed, a little planning goes a long way.
- Do the basics early: batteries, tape, gift bags, foil, bin liners and spare lightbulbs often run out at the worst moment.
- Stock the small essentials: pain relief, cold remedies and pet food save a stressful search on closed days.
- Spread your shop: pick up pantry and cleaning staples the week before Christmas to avoid the Eve rush.
- Time your visit: aim for mornings in the final week. Mid-afternoon on 24 December will be busy.
- Know your local alternatives: corner shops and some supermarkets may run reduced hours on 26 December and 1 January.
Returns, exchanges and gift cards
Closing on three days compresses returns traffic into fewer dates. Keep receipts, maintain original packaging and check return windows printed on your till slip. Lines such as toys and electricals often need to be unopened for refunds. If gifting Home Bargains vouchers, let recipients know about the early close on Christmas Eve and the three closure dates, so they can plan a visit once stores reopen.
Receipts and packaging matter during peak returns season. A tidy box and a clear proof of purchase speed up the queue.
What shoppers can expect in-store
Expect sharper footfall in the week leading up to Christmas, especially for seasonal confectionery, wrapping supplies and value household brands. Shelves will be replenished but the most popular lines move quickly once schools break up. Store teams will signpost alternatives if a favourite brand runs out.
On 24 December, the 5pm close is firm. Doors and tills shut on time to let colleagues get home. Allow extra minutes for parking, as retail parks often snarl up from late morning.
The scale behind the decision
Home Bargains is now the UK’s biggest independent grocer by its own tally, and one of the fastest-growing discounters. That means the three-day pause is not a niche gesture; it’s a national calendar change. For many towns, the branch is a go-to for everyday basket-fillers that keep costs down. The chain’s stance signals a broader shift towards rest days in retail, even during the peak sales window.
28,500 colleagues get guaranteed time off on three days when retail usually churns. It changes the Boxing Day habit.
Tips to avoid last-minute stress
Map your list against the closure dates. If you host, build a buffer for forgotten items by buying spares of basics a week early. Label a “Christmas kit” box with tape, scissors, spare batteries, phone chargers and plasters. For a tidy start to January, add bin bags, microfibre cloths and storage tubs to your pre-Christmas shop, because stores will not open on New Year’s Day.
Families with children might set aside one “quiet day” box with colouring books, puzzle magazines and snacks. It reduces pressure to “nip out” for entertainment on closed days. Pet owners can count meals and treats to cover the closure period plus two extra days.
Background on the brand
Founded by Tom Morris in 1976 as Home and Bargain, the retailer now trades nationwide as Home Bargains. Its draw rests on low prices across homeware, packaged foods, toiletries, beauty, garden and toys. The December dates matter because the chain attracts value hunters who plan gifts and household restocks in one trip.
Planning scenario you can copy
If you shop weekly, aim for a main basket on the weekend before Christmas, a light top-up on 23 December and a quick wrap-and-battery run when doors open on 24 December. Skip 26 December entirely and set the first shop of the New Year for 2 January. This rhythm respects the closures, trims queues and keeps budgets in sight.
For bargain chasers, the best chances often come in the first full week of January when seasonal stock is cleared. With New Year’s Day closed, expect any markdowns to appear from 2 January. Turn up with a list and a limit. Clearance aisles reward focus.
Fair play to Home Bargains. Retail is brutal in December and giving 28,500 people guaranteed time off is the right call. We can all buy tape and bin bags a day earlier. Boxing Day closures might sting, but families > frantic sales, just this once.
Note to self: batteries, gift wrap, pet food, painkillers—before the 24th, when they shut at 5pm. My calender brain will forget otherwise.