Selfridges cuts opening hours as UK holds back from mass closures for now

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Mar 17, 2020

While many stores have been closing globally, either by government decree or voluntarily, UK stores largely remain open, although visit the traffic to them has plummeted.

The reaction to this and to wider public health issues has so far been fairly muted, but Selfridges said late on Monday that it’s shortening its opening hours. The new hours start on Tuesday as it seeks to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Its giant department stores in London, Birmingham and Manchester will now open from 11:00 to 19:00 from Monday to Saturday, with Sunday opening hours (which were shorter anyway from 11:30 to 18:00) staying unchanged for now. 

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However, with the virus spreading rapidly and the government response seeming to change on a daily basis, by the time Sunday comes around, the situation could be very different.

“We have taken the decision to shorten our store opening hours for the time being – this may change based on the advice we receive,” it said. 

In an email sent to its registered customers, stores director Meave Wall said: “We wanted to reach out and let you know about the steps Selfridges is taking during these uncertain times. Despite everything going on around us, we are doing our best to continue with our promise to deliver extraordinary experiences and connect with our customers.”