Home Bargains has announced that it will be closing all of its stores across the UK on Boxing Day to give staff time to “recover”.
2021 has been yet another unprecedented year for the retail industry, and one that may have left many workers feeling like they could do with a little extra off, and so, discounter retailer has confirmed that it will close on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
The retailer said it wants to give workers more time to spend with their family and friends over Christmas and the festive season this year.
On top of that, the retailer will be shutting shops at the earlier time of 5pm on Christmas Eve.
“We recognise how incredibly hard all of our colleagues have worked over the last year, to continue to serve the local communities that rely on them so much,” a spokesperson for Home Bargains explained of the decision to close.
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“In light of this, we felt it was only right to reward store teams by taking the decision to close all of our stores on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
“And also close stores early at 5pm on Christmas Eve.”
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Explaining a little more about the decision, Home Bargains said: “As a family-run business, we know the importance of being together at Christmas with those we care about most, now more than ever.
“This is our way of saying thank you to all of our colleagues for their continued hard work and dedication.”
The decision taken by Home Bargains to close all stores on the two Bank Holidays this year has been met with a lot of praise by customers online.
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The retailer’s posts on social media have racked up tens of thousands of interactions.
This isn’t the first time Home Bargains has kept its doors shut on Boxing Day though, after it made the same decision to give its hardworking staff the day off in 2019 and 2020 too – but it’s perhaps most needed this year for a break from the hectic working environments and schedules brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Home Bargains has more than 500 stores, and employs over than 22,000 staff in the UK.
Stockport lad lands ‘world’s sweetest job’ as Aldi’s new Easter egg taster
Emily Sergeant
A young lad from Stockport has just landed himself the “sweetest job” in the world, as he’s been chosen as Aldi’s newest Easter egg taster.
It’s hard to see someone else live out your dream… but on the eve of what is undoubtedly one of the most chocolate and sweet treat-filled holidays of the year, a five-year-old from Stockport has been revealed the Aldi ‘Chief Easter Egg Tasting Officer’ for 2024.
And it really does sound like the “world’s sweetest job”, to be fair.
Little Levi Hallows has beaten hundreds of hopeful applicants to become the supermarket‘s newest recruit in-charge of easting Easter eggs.
As he assumes his new role, chocolate lover Levi will receive a selection of Aldi’s Easter eggs in exchange for reporting back his thoughts to the company’s Buying Team, and his feedback will be valuable, as it’ll help guide what goes on shelves for Easter 2025.
The cracking job generated hundreds of special entries on social media from all across the UK, with applicants sharing videos as to why they were right for the role.
Levi caught the attention of the judges after submitting a video entry where he sang a song dedicated to the role of a lifetime, and can be seen holding his favourite Aldi chocolate bar and belting out the words: “Do you have a sweet tooth? I do! I’ve had it since I was a boy!”
As well as being a massive chocolate fan and having a long-time sweet tooth, Levi is also a budding Karate star, and has a keen interest in all things outer space too.
Levi says he’s “so excited” to have been chosen for the coveted role and “can’t wait to taste the eggs”, before going on to add: “My mum and grandparents are very proud of me, and I can’t wait to tell all my friends at school.”
Five-year-old Levi Hallows will give his feedback to help Aldi’s Buying Team curate their 2025 Easter collection / Credit: Aldi
The Greater Manchester youngster’s mum, Mary, says her son was “absolutely over the moon” when he was told he’d landed the job.
Julie Ashfield, who is the Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, added: “Our Easter eggs are hugely popular, but it’s important that we continue to amaze shoppers with innovative, fun products each year, and that’s why the role of our Chief Easter Egg Tasting Officer is such an important one.
“The feedback provided really helps our Buying Team create a bigger and better range each year.”
Featured Image – Aldi UK
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Someone is selling the life-size animal lanterns from Manchester’s Lightopia festival
Daisy Jackson
You can now buy yourself a life-size light-up zebra, as seen at Manchester’s huge Lightopia lantern festival.
In what is undoubtedly the most unusual Facebook Marketplace listing we’ve seen in a hot minute, someone is selling off a flock of the animal-shaped lanterns.
These huge glowing beasts flocked the fields of Heaton Park for several years as part of the Lightopia festival, which created beautiful installations in a family-friendly light trail.
Probably the most popular of all the installations every year were the animal sections.
Because who doesn’t want to be walking in the dark through the woods and suddenly be faced with a life-size illuminated bull?
Lightopia left Manchester for good in early 2023 (replaced last year by the Christmas at Heaton Park light trail, from the makers of Christmas at Kew), and we have actually been wondering what happened to all the massive lanterns that had filled the park.
Well, turns out they’ve ended up in what appears to be someone’s back garden in Bolton.
And now they could be yours, if you have a couple of hundred quid in the bank and an urge to have a big fake lion in your garden.
The animal lanterns for sale include a massive bull, a zebra, and a lion, though the lion’s rear end looks like it’s seen better days.
It’s not cheap to adopt a light-up wild animal though – they’re asking £300 each, but £350 for the bull, but are open to offers for a bulk buy, if you fancy starting your own very stationary zoo.
Someone is selling the huge animal lanterns from Manchester’s Lightopia festival. Credit: Facebook
The listing states: “These were part of Lightopia who ran lighting festivals throughout the year.
“All have internal lights (which will need checking).
“They will need some maintenance some the thin like plastic covering split or missing built on steal frames.
“Collection only you need big van I know a van man to.”
Brb, off to bring home a lion with a hole in its haunches.