With the day declared a public holiday, many employers have given staff the entire day off and most shops will remain closed. So what will open on Monday and when? For those trying to buy essentials, options are very limited before 5pm. Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons will be closed all day. Waitrose will close all but a few stores near the procession route. Asdas will only be open after 5pm and no online deliveries will be offered. Major Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores will be closed all day, except for some in central London and Windsor. After 5 p.m. Most shops will remain closed, with major department stores such as Harrods, House of Fraser, John Lewis and Selfridges announcing plans to close for the day. Other retailers that have confirmed they will close include Argos, B&Q, Currys, Homebase, Ikea, Jack Wills, Primark, Specsavers and Wilko. Several movie theater chains have said they will be closed Monday. Photo: Henry Nicholls/Reuters
Entertainment
For those hoping to escape the day of mourning, options will be limited. The Odeon, Cineworld and Showcase cinema chains will remain closed. Vue Cinemas will not be showing films, but customers in some locations will be able to watch the funeral for free. Many plays, for example Hamilton and The Book of Mormon in London’s West End, will not take place that day. 10-pin bowling enthusiasts can head to Hollywood Bowl after 1:30 p.m. While Better gyms will be closed all day, PureGym will be open before 10am and after 2pm. Center Parcs faced backlash for saying it would close its UK sites for 24 hours on Monday, backtracking after facing accusations it was “ruining people’s holidays”. The company said it has “reviewed our position regarding the very small number of visitors who are not due to depart on Monday and we will allow them to remain in our villages rather than having to leave and return on Tuesday”, although no facilities will to be available in his holiday villages so that they are discounted. Fuller’s group will open most of its pubs on Monday. Photo: Katie Collins/PA
Hospitality
Most pub chains have confirmed they will open on Monday, including most of the more than 400 Fuller group pubs and the 44 run by JW Lees. Some pubs, such as those of the Greene King chain, will open early to show the funeral from 11am. JD Wetherspoon said most of its stores would open later than usual, however, after the funeral. Greggs stores will close for the day, while McDonald’s said it would close its UK restaurants during the day before reopening at 5pm.
Journey
Flights to and from Heathrow will be suspended for half an hour on Monday to avoid interrupting the two minutes’ silence at the end of the funeral. Britain’s biggest airport will also halt early afternoon arrivals to avoid planes landing in the west of the capital during the Queen’s hearse procession and halt take-offs later to avoid disturbing the ceremonial procession to Windsor. For those wishing to make road trips, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco will close their petrol forecourts, with some reopening at 5pm. Only a small number of Tesco self-service petrol stations will reopen in the evening and customers are advised to check their local pumps.
