THE bank holiday weekend is here and many shoppers could face changes to the opening and closing hours of their local Aldi.
If you are planning a BBQ or family feast, here are the times you’ll be able to visit your nearest store.
1
When is Aldi open on August bank holiday Monday?
Ordinarily, UK stores are open between 8am and 10pm on weekdays and Saturdays.
Sunday opening times vary, but stores usually open between 9am and 11am and close between 4pm and 7pm.
In most cases, Aldi supermarkets should be running close to a normal service this bank holiday.
It’s website states that the majority of stores will open from 8am to 8pm.
The chain says openings times will vary between individual stores, so check the website to make sure.
You can check your local Aldi using the store finder.
When is the next bank holiday?
Every year, there are eight bank holiday in England and Wales.
If a bank holiday falls on a weekend, a week day, normally the following Monday, becomes a bank holiday as a substitute.
After August 26, the next will be Christmas Day, December 25, followed by Boxing Day, December 26, and New Year’s Day, January 1.
The number of holidays in the UK is relatively low compared to many other European countries.
Recent years have seen calls for extra holidays to be introduced recognising patron saints days in all constituent countries of the UK, as St Patrick’s Day is recognised in Northern Ireland and St Andrews remembered in Scotland.
How did bank holidays begin?
A bank holiday is a public holiday in the UK when most people are given an extra day off work.
They were first introduced by the Bank Holidays Act of 1871, tabled by Liberal MP John Lubbock, who said his aim was to ease pressure on workers by giving them an extra four days off.
Under the act, no person was compelled to make any payment or to do any act on a bank holiday which he or she would not be compelled to do or make on Christmas Day or Good Friday.
The holidays were so popular that for a while they were referred to as St Lubbock’s Days.
Why do Scotland and Northern Ireland have more bank holidays?
In contrast to England’s eight bank holidays, Scotland has nine each year while Northern Ireland has ten.
The additional days tend to fall on days of particular significance in each country’s history.
In Scotland, January 2 is a bank holiday owing to the cultural importance of Hogmanay and New Year to Scots.
St Andrew’s Day is also a public holiday, though it has to be taken in lieu of another bank holiday.
As well as St Patrick’s Day, Northern Ireland has a bank holiday on July 12 to celebrate the Battle of the Boyne.
Bank or public holidays do not have to be given to employees as paid leave, an employer can decide whether to include bank holidays as part of a worker’s statutory leave.
The Government website has more details on what your worker’s rights are in regards to public holidays.
Bank holidays may also impact how benefits are paid, the gov.uk website explains how they may be affected.
