We only have a few days left to get all the Christmas shopping sorted.
So to help you get your life in order, we’ve pulled together key opening times for supermarkets in Manchester over the holidays.
Many are running extended opening hours in the run-up to the big day, followed by shorter hours and closures on some big holidays, and this is particularly apparent on Boxing Day, when many more supermarkets will shut to give their staff a break after a turbulent couple of years.
Bear in mind that all of these are subject to change and should be checked on each supermarket’s website.
Here’s everything you need to know.
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Aldi
Credit: Aldi UK & Ireland
Monday 20 – Thursday 23 December: 7am – 10pm
Christmas Eve: 7am – 6pm
Christmas Day & Boxing Day: Closed
Monday 27 – Thursday 30 December: 8am – 10pm
New Year’s Eve: 8am – 6pm
New Year’s Day: Closed
Sunday 2 January: 9:30am – 4pm
Monday 3 January: 8am – 8pm
You can check your local store’s opening times on the Aldi website here.
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Tesco
Credit: Geograph
Tesco has plans to keep over 370 of its large stores open for 24 hours a day over the Christmas period in the run-up for Christmas Day.
Between 20 December and Christmas Eve, hundreds of stores will be open at all hours to help shoppers get their shopping done before the big day, but opening hours may vary by store – with customers advised to use the store locator to find specific opening times.
However, Tesco has said all its stores will close at 7pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, with the exception of Express stores, which will remain open until 10pm on both dates.
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All of the chain’s stores will close on Christmas Day and all Tesco Extra stores and superstores will keep to Sunday opening hours on Boxing Day – with most Express stores open from 9am to 7pm on 26 December.
On New Year’s Day, most stores will be open between 8am to 6pm, except for its Express stores, which will close at 10pm.
You can check opening times via the Tesco Store Locator here.
Sainsbury’s
Credit: Sainsbury’s
Christmas Eve: 6am – 7pm
Christmas Day & Boxing Closed
Monday 27 & Tuesday 28 December: 8am – 8pm
Wednesday 29 & Thursday 30 December: 7am – 9pm
New Year’s Eve: 7am – 7pm
New Years Day: 9am – 7pm
You can check opening times via the Sainsbury’s Store Locator here.
M&S
All Marks & Spencer stores will open from 6am between 20 – 23 December, then on Christmas Eve, some stores will remain open until 8pm.
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All Marks & Spencer stores will close on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
You can check your local store’s opening times on the M&S website here.
Didsbury favourite Rustik has confirmed its will sadly be closing this month
Danny Jones
West Didsbury favourite Rustik has sadly announced it will be closing for food after a decade at the end of this month.
The beloved Burton cafe and bar has been a staple of the tight-knit foodie neighbourhood since 2015, but now the independent Irish eatery has confirmed that the business will be shutting down permanently in less than a fortnight.
Confirmed on Wednesday afternoon, 17 September, the casual Manc restaurant and hangout informed their loyal followers of the unfortunate news.
Unsurprisingly, their social media has been awash with condolences, collective sadness and support for the local institution.
Posting across all of their accounts, Rustik wrote: “After an unforgettable 10 years on Burton Road, the time has come to close our doors. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come — never in a million years did we imagine Rustik would grow into what it became.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to every single one of you who walked through our doors and supported us along the way. We poured everything we had — our time, our energy, our lives into making Rustik a space for everyone. And what a ride it’s been.
“From the chaotic, beautiful brunch shifts to late nights dancing on tables to ‘Wagon Wheel’, pushing through the challenges of COVID and helping our community with meals during hard times— we’ve done it all, together.
“To our amazing staff, past and present: thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and the love you brought every single day. You helped build something truly special, and we’ll never be able to thank you enough.
“To the incredible musicians who filled our space with life — keep doing what you do. The noise complaints? 100% worth the unforgettable nights.”
The team go on to detail that the official closing date is Tuesday, 30 September, reiterating that it is “business running as usual until then” and urging fans to “come down, grab your last Rustik fix, and raise a glass with us one final time.”
Signing off with an emotional farewell, they add: “Lastly, a message close to our hearts: please support your local cafes, bars, and independents. Hospitality is tough right now, and they need your support more than ever.
“Thank you for the most incredible decade of our lives. It’s over and out from us.”
It goes without saying that we’re gutted to see Rustik go and know how much it meant not only to the Burton Road community, but also to the Didsbury community, Chorlton and many other Greater Manchester natives.
That was dubbed the ‘best Warehouse Project there has ever been’ by people in the room – so the chance to see him at Amber’s is going to be pretty wild.
Fred Again sent a ticket link to fans registered in Manchester, which appear to have sold out immediately.
He wrote in his mailer: “cos it’s a very small venue i really wanna make sure the tickets go to the people who are more likely to be from Manchester based on what the team see when you’ve signed up for things before. so yeah, that’s why you’re getting this first :)”
Sharing the news on his Instagram stories today, he added: “i am playing a small show at @ambers.club in Manchester this thursday with @cariboumusic and @zuri_fernandez. a handful of tickets have been sent to the ppl we know are in manny, we did it this way jus to try and stop resellers and stuff ykno”
Fred Again added: “massive love to amber’s for making it possible. another really important independent venue i’m so happy i get to play in.”
Amber’s is a no-phones nightclub that’s famed for its sound system.
Fred Again and Caribou will take to the stage at Amber’s on Thursday 18 September.
The Manc -
20th December 2021 
