Let’s be honest, the real New Year’s Eve planning doesn’t start until about 2pm on the 31st. You suddenly remember you promised to make that dip, or that you only have half a packet of stale crackers. Your brain, still recovering from Christmas, goes into a mild panic.
Morrisons knows this. They’ve seen the glazed expressions of a thousand last-minute shoppers. On New Year’s Eve, most stores will close their doors around 6pm or 7pm, which feels early enough to be a trap. It’s like the store is saying, “You had all day, Brenda. Now go home and figure it out.”
Think of it as the retail equivalent of a strict parent: they love you, but they have boundaries. You wouldn’t turn up to a party at 11pm and expect a warm welcome, would you? Well, maybe you would in your twenties, but that’s a different article.
The Typical Timetable (That Will Probably Save Your Bacon)
Here’s the golden rule, whispered between desperate shoppers in the cheese aisle: check your local store online. I know, I know, you want me to just tell you the exact time. But Morrisons, like a moody teenager, has regional variations. Some open at a leisurely 8am and shut by 6pm. Others might open from 7am to 7pm, giving you that precious extra hour.
Your best bet? Imagine the store closes two hours earlier than you think it does. If you’re planning a 5pm dash for sausage rolls, you’ll probably be fine. If you’re thinking, “I’ll just pop in at half six,” you’ll be standing outside, wallet in hand, watching the staff lock up and wave goodbye with a cheerful “Happy New Year!” It’s a special kind of heartbreak, like missing the last bus home after a bad date.
Morrisons Christmas and New Year's opening hours 2016 | Express.co.uk
And don’t get me started on the late-night shops. The smaller Morrisons Daily stores often keep more ‘normal’ hours, but even they can close at 10pm or midnight on the 31st. It’s a lottery. A lottery with a prize of frozen pizza and a bottle of cheap fizz.
