I've received a request from Sainsbury's in Forest Hill for opinions on their Sunday opening hours. A year ago the Sunday hours were changed from 11-17:00 to 12-18:00. Please post below whether this works for you, or if you'd prefer a return to more traditional hours of 11-17:00 or possibly 10-16:00.

12-6 is perfect. There's 'big Sainsbury's' down at Sydenham for anyone wanting to shop earlier on a Sunday. The 6pm close at 'little Sainsbury's' is great for those last-minute forgotten purchases needed for Sunday dinner.

But I accept it may not be very popular with the staff!

It's swings-and-roundabouts, though, Mr_Numbers. We have Sunday lunch rather than dinner and a 10am start would suit us better!

This post was last modified: 21-04-2015 03:37 PM by rshdunlop.

I quite agree - though personally I can hardly imagine anything worse than being up (fairly) early on a Sunday to go to Sainsbury's...

As Sunday lunchers ourselves the 10-4 option is the best.

12 - 6 is good. Works well in conjunction with the earlier times at Sydenham.

I gave up trying to shop in Forest Hill if I needed bits and bobs on a Sunday as everything opens so late - Sainsbury's and The Butchery. So I would welcome 11-5, or 10-4 even better.

For me, as I suspect for many people with kids, once you get to midday the day is half over!

There's Tesco Express on the corner of Honor Oak Road, the Co-Op on Waldram Park Road and even the little store just down the road from Sainsbury's - all open all day for last minute purchases.

Unless it happens to be the closest open store at the time, surely Sunday at Sainsbury's is just for a big shop for those that can't fit it in at other times.

12:00 - 18:00 is my preference

The current opening hours work well for us.

Oh gee this is a tough one.


In winter I welcome 10-4 or 11-5.

Summer it doesn't matter. Whatever suits the staff more I'd say. Earlier people can go home on a Sunday the better.

Perhaps they should consider not opening at all on Sundays? They could open until later on Saturday evening instead.

Why are they asking for our opinion on opening hours ?

We were never asked when they changed the hours, although they claim customers wanted to come to the store later on a Sunday & it was their reason for the change. Possible that the new times have not worked for them ( finance and staffing ) and they want to revert back to the old opening hours ?. I have noticed that going into the store (since the change) at around 17.00, the store is empty, so it is not working for them. When the store was open 11 to 17.00, from my observations there were lots of people at 11.00 and then the store was very busy between 16.00 to 17.00. They have the figures for hourly transactions.

I really do not care what hours they are open - the way we shop and the options that are available are numerous & changed beyond recognition.

It is a private business, they should know what is best for their business. They have the data (financial) that would guide them on what is best for them, so go ahead and decide Sainsbury's.

Why don't they split the shop into two and open one part from 10 to 4 and the other part from 12 to 6?

I agree jaradras. I was unaware when they changed their hours and was there one Sunday morning shortly after 11 to be greeted by a small crowd outside waiting for it to open - people were quite annoyed.

And why don't they ask customers in-store or hand out a questionnaire at the door, instead of asking a very vocal minority on here?

Im fine with a shop thats open late morning til mid afternoon on a Sunday. Really don't see the point in 12-6 at all. Useless for popping in when getting ready for an afternoon out etc.

I also don't see how Sydenham Sainsburys is seen as a simple alternative, its not "just down the road" at all. Certainly not for those without a car.

Besides, there are later opening alternatives like the Co-Op and Tesco. While I understand that its convenient, its just that... Not a public service who should chop and change their staffs hours all the time because people cant remember to get something from the shops.

First world problems eh! Once upon a time the shops did half day on Wednesdays, closed on Sundays, and Sainsburys only had one late night a week... The world managed, and people tended to remember what they needed from the shops

True - but it wasn't all rosy in those days. The pubs used to close at 3pm and then again at 11pm. Utterly uncivilised!

I didn't know it was open 12-6pm, but then I don't shop there very often. As a non-regular customer I would have assumed it was open either 10-4 or 11-5 (and probably would have turned up before 12pm and been annoyed that it wasn't open).

As others have noted, they will have till transaction data so can calculate how much business they do between 4-5pm.

I like the current hours, open till 6. It's later than many supermarkets are open on Sundays and good if you need something last minute before supper. I'd be sorry if they were changed.

Opening at 10 or 11 would suit us better for the same reasons mentioned above - Sunday lunch shopping, like to walk to shop not drive, by noon we're already into kids lunch and nap time. Nice of them to ask??