Drivers are being warned of petrol station chaos this festive season with supermarkets and major retailers adjusting their opening hours to deal with Christmas and the bank holidays.
Almost all petrol stations around the UK will see changes to opening times in the coming days and weeks as the country slows down for the holidays.
Motorists have been urged to check their fuel levels before setting off on any festive journey, with the RAC and AA warning of massive queues as millions take to the roads.
Petrol and diesel drivers should ensure they have suitable fuel levels over the Christmas period to avoid any headaches when local filling stations may be closed.
Petrol station opening times could differ between supermarkets and retailers
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Tesco
Opening hours for the festive period will vary from store to store and by location, with Tesco urging motorists to use its store locator.
Drivers will be able to check the operating hours for the filling stations, as these can vary from the opening times of the main store.
All Tesco filling stations will be closed on Christmas Day, with the company referring drivers to its store locator tool for opening times for the rest of the festive period.
Many retailers are advising drivers to check their store locator websites
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Asda
All Asda petrol stations have a pay-at-the-pump service, so drivers will be able to fill up throughout the Christmas period, with usual opening times varying by store.
The following times apply to most Asda stores over the Christmas and New Year period:
Sunday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) – 10am – 4pm
Monday, December 25 (Christmas Day) – Closed
Tuesday, December 26 (Boxing Day) – 9am – 6pm
Sunday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve) – 10am – 4pm
Monday, January 1 (New Year’s Day) – 9am – 6pm
The vast majority of Sainsbury’s stores will be open from 10am until 4pm on Christmas Eve, while all stores will be closed on Christmas Day, before operating between 9am and 6pm on Boxing Day.
Any associated petrol filling station (PFS) will open 30 mins before the main store and close 30 mins after the main store during this period.
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve will see any PFS open an hour later than the main store, with drivers urged to check the store locator tool on the Sainsbury’s website.
Sainsbury’s
The vast majority of Sainsbury’s stores will be open from 10am until 4pm on Christmas Eve, while all stores will be closed on Christmas Day, before operating between 9am and 6pm on Boxing Day.
Any associated petrol filling station (PFS) will open 30 mins before the main store and close 30 mins after the main store during this period.
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve will see any PFS open an hour later than the main store, with drivers urged to check the store locator tool on the Sainsbury’s website.
Morrisons
Main stores will be open between 10am and 4pm on Christmas Eve (6am to 6pm in Scotland), while the petrol stations will be open from 5.30am until 6.30pm.
All Morrisons stores and petrol filling stations will be closed on Christmas Day and will reopen between 9am and 6pm on Boxing Day.
Filling stations will be open from 7am to 7pm on New Year’s Eve and between 8am and 8pm on New Year’s Day before returning to regular trading hours on January 2.
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Shell
Most Shell-owned service stations will remain open through the festive, although the company does not have insight into the operating hours of dealer locations.
The following stations may close on Christmas Day: Allstop, Amesbury, Attleborough, Cress, Kennford, Oswestry, Oxted, Picket Post and Winnersh.
The following stations will have reduced trading hours on Christmas Day from 8am to 10pm: Ashstead, Benfleet, Birch, Birdham, Box Trees, Bromley, Buckingham, Budgens Aston Clinton, Budgens Berkhamsted, Budgens Dover, Budgens Martin’s Way, Budgens Webb Ellis, Burnham, Bury St Edmunds, Chandlers Ford, Chelford Chester, Elm Tree, Fairmile, Fulham, Glen, Green Street, Halfmoon, Hampton Park, Hedingham, Henfield, Heyhouses, Hook, Hove, Hythe, Knutsford, Little Waitrose Horsley, Little Waitrose Kingstonian, Little Waitrose Tollerton, Little Waitrose Windsor, Lonsdale, Lymington, Macknade, Marlborough Road, Moulton, Nailsworth, Newnham, Oak Lane, Oaklands Park, Old Brompton, Ottershaw, Oxford House, Pool Bridge, Rayleigh, Redbourn, Shaw Cross, Sittingbourne, Sketty, Smallford, Solihull, St Helier, St Ives, Stanground, Stock Road, Stokenchurch, Tiptree, Upminster, Urmston, Victoria and Willesden.
All other stations will remain open as normal.
