Waitrose does open on Boxing Day—thank the grocery gods, right? But here’s the twist: they open later and close earlier than normal. Most branches, for example, will swing open their doors at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., and then slam them shut by 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. This is not the time for a 24-hour shopping spree, my friends. It’s more like a polite nod from the universe: “Here’s some bread. Now go home and eat it in your onesie.”
And don’t you dare roll up at 8 a.m. thinking you’ll be the early bird. You’ll be met with a dark, empty car park and the haunting silence of your own shame. Check your local store online! Because Waitrose is not a monolith—some stores open at 8 a.m. while others don’t unlock until 11 a.m. Yes, 11 a.m. That’s practically afternoon tea time. This is why we can’t have nice things.
Why the weird hours? Blame Christmas, Britain, and the noble concept of staff having a life
You might think, “But Waitrose, you sell cheese in a hallowed aisle! Why can’t you be open when I need stuffing crackers at 7 p.m.?” Good question. Here’s a surprising fact: Boxing Day is actually a bank holiday in the UK, meaning employees get paid extra—or they get a day in lieu. Waitrose, being the saintly overlord of middle-class shopping, actually gives their staff Boxing Day off if they’ve worked Christmas Eve. Wait, what? That’s right—many Waitrose stores close entirely on Boxing Day in Scotland, and some in England shut early to let staff binge-watch Love Actually with their families. Inconvenient for you? Yes. But also… kind of wholesome?
So if you do find a Waitrose open, remember: the person scanning your brussels sprout leftovers is doing so on double time. Smile at them. Maybe even buy them a mince pie later.
Boxing Day 2026 supermarket opening times for Tesco, Asda, Aldi and
