A MAJOR high street bargain retailer has confirmed it will shut all its stores on Boxing Day to give staff a well-earned break.
Poundland will keep all it stores closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day as a thank you to colleagues.
Poundland will close its stores for three days over the Christmas break[/caption]
The discounter had a similar closure last year, to give staff a well- earned break.
This year has been tough for the business.
After being sold to private equity firm, Gordon Brothers in June, the group revealed they planned to invest £90million into the business after taking it over.
However, they finalised a closure programme last month, shutting 57 stores by September 28.
Further closures will continue throughout October and November.
It’s part of plans to reduce Poundland’s store estate from around 800 to 650-700 sites.
The restructure will cut 1,000 jobs from their 14,700 staff and shut two warehouses, affecting 350 workers.
In addition to giving staff time off the festive break, Poundland are giving every worker a book of £25 vouchers that they can spend in-store during the months of December and January 2026.
Darren MacDonald, country manager UK at Poundland, said: “It’s no secret that 2025 has been one of our most challenging years, but the support and commitment from our colleagues has been nothing short of amazing – and I’m delighted we can renew our commitment to give them the time they deserve over the holidays.
“I know how much our colleagues are looking forward to making shopping in stores a magical experience this year— and we’re proud to support them with a proper festive break.”
It is common practice for retailers to close their stores on Christmas Day but not all shut branches the following day.
Marks and Spencer staff won’t automatically get Boxing Day off this year for the first time in five years.
Aldi has confirmed that it will be shutting all of its UK stores for three days over the festive period, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Simiarly Home Bargains will also shut on the same three days and will also close doors early at 5pm on Christmas Eve.
If you’re keen to find out whether your favourite retailer will close its branches on Boxing Day, it’s worth keeping an eye on social media.
Chains often publicise their festive opening hours on X and Facebook.
You can also try using a retailer’s store locator tool which should tell you the opening hours for your local branch.
Most of the time, it will also give you a number to call to find out opening times.
Other changes at Poundland
Shoppers can no longer use the Poundland website to buy products.
It’s loyalty scheme, Poundland perks has also been axed
Poundland Perks customers have until January 15 2026, to use their reward vouchers.
The chain will also close its frozen and digital distribution centre in Darton, South Yorkshire later this year.
Bilston national distribution centre will also be shut in early 2026.
The closure of stores and company restructuring is seeing the company go back to basics, increasing the number of £1 products it sells in stores.
The bargainer has ensured that 60% of grocery items will be sold for £1.
Over the coming months, Poundland will extend its new pricing simplicity to its general merchandise and clothing ranges, offering fewer price points and more focused ranges.
This will allow customers to get more value on offer.
Why do retailers close on Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. So why do retailers decide to close? Senior Consumer Reporter Olivia Marshall explains.
Closing on Boxing Day allows staff to have a well-deserved break after the busy Christmas period.
This can help improve staff morale and reduce burnout.
It also provides them with an opportunity to spend time with their families and friends during the festive season.
For some retailers, the cost of opening on Boxing Day, including staffing and operational expenses, may not be justified by the expected sales revenue, especially if customer footfall is low.
With the rise of online shopping, some retailers may focus on online sales and promotions rather than opening physical stores on Boxing Day.
For some businesses, it may also be a long-standing tradition for them to remain closed on Boxing Day.
From a practical perspective, the day after Christmas can be used for inventory checks, restocking, and preparing for post-Christmas sales.
This can be more effectively done without the distraction of serving customers.
