Christmas

Aldi confirms ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its 1,000+ stores across UK

It's a chance to give staff a 'proper rest'.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 10th September 2026

Aldi has announced that it’ll, once again, be closing the doors of all of its stores across the UK for 62 hours this year.

Christmas is always known to be one of the busiest periods of the year for the retail industry, and Boxing Day has a reputation for being the ultimate day for shopping deals and discounts in the UK – but this year, just like it has done on several years in the past, Aldi has made the decision to close all of its stores nationwide on this bank holiday.

The supermarket retailer says it wants to thank its colleagues ‘for all their hard work’ throughout the year by giving them some extra time to spend with their families.

This means that all Aldi stores will be closed on both 25 and 26 December.

That’s not all though, as stores will also be closed on New Year’s Day, and will reopen once again on Saturday 2 January 2027.

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Aldi has announced a ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its UK stores / Credit: Aldi UK

Opening hours at different Aldi stores across the UK will vary in the lead-up to Christmas, so it’s important to check the times for your local store, but the retailer has confirmed that most branches will be operating extended hours to ‘ensure customers can stock up ahead of the big day’

In the interim period between Christmas and New Year, stores will reopen as usual on Sunday 27 through to Wednesday 30 December, with reduced hours also likely on Sunday and New Year’s Eve.

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Speaking on the decision to shut up shop for a full 62-hour period this festive season, Rachel Geary, who is the Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “Christmas is a special time for our customers, but it is also one of the busiest periods of the year for our teams.

“Our colleagues work incredibly hard to ensure customers can pick up everything they need ahead of the big day.

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“We never take that effort for granted. Closing our stores on Boxing Day is one way of saying thank you and giving colleagues a proper chance to rest, switch off and spend more time with the people closest to them.”

Featured Image – Aldi UK

Christmas

M&S launches massive recruitment drive in Greater Manchester with hundreds of jobs available

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

M&S has launched a massive recruitment drive across Greater Manchester.

With the festive season fast approaching, and most British stores having already unveiled their Christmas ranges for 2026, one of the country’s largest brands has launched a massive UK-wide seasonal recruitment drives to gear up for what is always one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry.

M&S has announced it will recruit more than 300 new colleagues to support its store teams across Greater Manchester this festive season.

As mentioned Christmas is one of the busiest moments of the year for M&S, and seasonal colleagues play a ‘vital’ part in delivering that.

New recruits will be tasked with helping M&S deliver a ‘brilliant’ service for customers.

Stores with vacancies span the whole of Greater Manchester – including Altrincham, Bolton Middlebrook, Bury The Rock, Manchester Market Street, Prestwich, Sale, Stockport, Stretford, Trafford Centre, and Walkden.

M&S Manchester
M&S has launched a massive recruitment drive in Greater Manchester with hundreds of jobs available / Credit: M&S Manchester | Supplied

M&S says the roles are ‘fast-moving and hands-on’, with colleagues required to work together to make sure customers still get the very best of M&S, even at its busiest.

The roles will pay £13.41 per hour, with successful applicants receiving the training, tools and support needed to get up to speed quickly.

“We can’t wait to welcome over 300 new colleagues to our store teams here in Greater Manchester,” commented Zeba Khan, who is the Regional Manager at M&S.

“As we get ready for our busiest time of year, it’s a great opportunity to join us and help bring a magical M&S Christmas to our customers.

“We have a range of opportunities available, whether joining our city centre flagship or our fresh market-style foodhalls. We’re looking for colleagues who are passionate about delivering great customer service and being part of a team.”

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Fancy it then? Applications are now open, and you can find out more and apply on the M&S Christmas careers page here.

Featured Image – Supplied

Christmas

Festive food village announced at magical Manchester light trail

Lydia Mastrolonardo Lydia Mastrolonardo Festive food village announced at magical Manchester light trail

There’s just one month to go until Manchester’s most spectacular festive light trail returns – and they’ve just announced details of the Christmas Village and six new food traders. 

Heaton Park will soon light up for Northern Lights Manchester, and the list of foodies making up this year’s Christmas Village has just been revealed.

With everything from chargrilled souvlaki to handmade pies and hot fruit crumble on the menu, there’s bound to be something for everyone.

Brand new for 2026 is Chicken Hut, serving up the crispiest chicken tenders you’ve ever had, plus Greek Traditional Souvlaki bringing all of those delicious mediterranean flavours, The Lids & Co supplying mouthwatering customisable pies, and The Otley Burger Company, which was recently crowned the UK’s best food truck.

The above savoury offerings will be joined by the returning well-known and loved, The Sausage Factory, serving festive bratwurst, currywurst, and proper local Bury Black Pudding sausage.

If you’re after a sweet treat, they have enlisted Crumble & Custard to supply a range of warming fruit crumbles with creamy custard, while Crepes & Coffee will be providing all of the desserts you could desire, along with gorgeous hot chocolates providing the final nail in the food coma coffin.

If after all that you need a sit down, a pint or a mulled wine, the Bees Knees Tavern is the place to go.

Emma St. Croix, Senior Marketing Manager at From The Fields, said: “There’s something very festive about finishing a trip through Christmases past with a hot crumble and custard. 

The linup for Northern Lights' festive food village has been announced
The linup for Northern Lights’ festive food village has been announced
The Bees Knees pub will return
The Bees Knees pub will return
You can warm up here after your walk around the Heaton Park light trail
You can warm up here after your walk around the Heaton Park light trail

“Food is a big part of the night out at Northern Lights, and we’re excited to welcome six new traders plus The Sausage Factory and the Bees Knees Tavern from last year.With the Ferris wheel in the Christmas Village and a whole new trail across Heaton Park, there’s plenty to explore this year. We’re just over a month from opening and can’t wait to see everyone back.”

As for the trail itself – Heaton Park is to be transformed into a toy box of memories, with 15 brand-new installations, inspired by the toys and traditions that would have topped Christmas wish lists in the past.

Whether you fancy a trip down memory lane or you just fancy a wintery trip out, one thing is for certain, this is one Christmas experience you don’t want to miss out on.

First, visitors will have the opportunity to wander along the colourful path, as part of the Walkway of Wonder, where bright stained-glass panels glow like windows in an old fairytale. Then back to the sixties you go, down Lava Lamp Lane, where glowing blobs of colour mesmerisingly float across the ground and into the trees – which may even be enough to inspire you to dig out that old lava lamp you once had collecting dust on your shelf.

If you once considered yourself a pro at Scalextric, the Retro Racers installation may bring back some memories, where visitors will be able to send lights shooting around a giant racetrack.

Northern Lights Manchester will return next month
Northern Lights Manchester will return next month
Northern Lights Manchester is taking over Heaton Park
Northern Lights Manchester is taking over Heaton Park

By this point you may need a bit of warming up – head on past the giant nutcrackers and get cosy by the fire pits beneath the festoon lights, for some marshmallow toasting.

Don’t be alarmed if you see giant candy canes marching along Candy Cane Crossing, like Manchester’s biggest peppermint dream, before you reach O Christmas Tree which would make the perfect spot for a photo.

I’m sure we all remember THE Christmas catalogue – the one many of us spent hours flicking thorough and circling our desired gifts? Well, this year pupils from a local primary school have filled its pages with their own fantastic drawings of classic toys.

Finally, you will find that the Lakehouse winds itself into cuckoo-clock as the trail comes to a close.

It is important to note the route is fully accessible, with dedicated neuro-inclusive evenings when visitor numbers are reduced by 75% and audio levels are lowered throughout.

Event information

  • Dates: 19 November – 31 December 2026
  • Location: Heaton Park, Manchester
  • Opening times:
    • 4:30pm – 8:15pm (19–26 November)
    • 4:15pm – 8:15pm (27 November – 31 December)

Northern Lights Manchester tickets

Unsurprisingly, tickets are selling quickly, with over 100,000 of you expected to attend this year – don’t hang about.

  • Under 2s go free
  • Child tickets (3-16 years) from £13.50
  • Adult tickets from £19.50
  • Family tickets from £60

Click HERE to book your tickets. Use the code LIGHTS20 for 20% off until 31 October 2026

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Follow @northernlightsmanchester on social media.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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