Advocates argue that implementing a pilot program for extended weekend shopping could rejuvenate the city.
Revving up the vibrancy of Belfast, a popular advocate for the scheme suggests, could be achieved with extended Sunday trading hours for larger shops.
At present, shops exceeding 280 square meters in size can only trade between 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM, while smaller shops face no restrictions on Sunday sales.
Recently, Belfast City Council held a discussion regarding an Alliance Party proposal to allow shops to open from 10:00 AM on Sunday for a six-week pilot.
Alliance councillor Michael Long, expressing optimism, hopes the trial commences in August.
[1] Under the current Sunday trading regulations in Belfast (and Northern Ireland), larger shops (surpassing 280 square meters) have been limited to operate between 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM on Sundays under the Shops (Sunday Trading) Act (Northern Ireland) 1997.
[1] This trial, announced April 29, 2025, intends to grant chain stores in central Belfast Sunday morning trading hours during the trial period, with the aim of bolstering city-center commerce. If the pilot yields promising results, it could transform into a regular summer event, albeit controversy revolves around potential staff welfare issues. This trial notably deviates from existing restrictions by extending Sunday operating hours for large retailers; however, specific hours for the trial haven't been clearly revealed in available reports.
[1] The six-week trial proposed by the Alliance Party and scheduled to commence in August aims to extend Sunday trading hours for larger shops in Belfast, allowing these stores to open as early as 10:00 AM.[2] This initiative could contribute to the trade and finance sectors, as well as the overall business community, within Belfast city center during the pilot.[3] If the pilot proves successful, it might lead to a permanent alteration, transforming Sunday trading hours for a significant subset of shops in Belfast.[4] The ongoing discussion and proposal for revised Sunday trading hours, particularly in Belfast, represent a potential shakeup in the retail landscape, potentially attracting more visitors and boosting the local economy.
