Tesco announces Sunday opening in Scottish Sabbath stronghold despite 1,900-strong petition

Tesco in Stornoway was the only branch in the UK that closed on a Sunday to respect the island’s local traditions.

It is one of the last remaining bastions of Sabbatarianism in Britain.

But now the Isle of Lewis will see the tradition of Sunday observance wane a little more as Tesco announced it will open its store on the Hebridean island seven days a week.

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The supermarket in Stornoway was the only Tesco branch in the UK that remained closed on a Sunday to respect local tradition.

Tesco has announced it will open its Stornoway branch, on the Isle of Lewis, seven days a weekTesco has announced it will open its Stornoway branch, on the Isle of Lewis, seven days a week
Tesco has announced it will open its Stornoway branch, on the Isle of Lewis, seven days a week | Katharine Hay

In a statement released on Tuesday, however, the retail giant confirmed its first Sunday opening would be November 17.

It comes after several businesses in the town, including some restaurants, a bakery and the local petrol station, have opened for business on the Lord’s Day over the years.

Tesco, which will be the first major retail outlet in the town to open seven days a week, said staff had been informed of the decision and that no employee at the Stornoway branch would be obliged to work on a Sunday if they chose not to.

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The supermarket chain said the move would lead to “the creation of at least 30 new jobs”, offer customers greater flexibility when shopping and reduce busy periods during the week, especially Fridays and Saturdays.   

There has been strong opposition to the decision, particularly from the island’s church community, but also those without religious affiliation. An online petition asking the supermarket not to go ahead has attracted some 1,900 signatures since being launched three weeks ago.

As a concession to the local traditions, Tesco said it has adopted “a unique approach” with the Stornoway store by opening at noon and closing at 8pm on a Sunday.

Christian Davies, Tesco Store director in the Highlands and Islands, said: “We are confident that the decision to open our Stornoway Superstore on Sundays will allow us to balance the demand for seven-day opening, while remaining respectful to local traditions and culture.  

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“Over recent weeks we have received a significant amount of positive feedback to our Sunday opening proposals, particularly from colleagues.  

“Of course, we understand that not everyone supports opening the store seven days a week and we will adopt a unique approach to Stornoway with shorter opening times on a Sunday than other locations in Scotland.

“This change will improve the shopping experience for customers by offering them flexibility and reducing busy periods during the week, especially Fridays and Saturdays.   

“We will continue to listen to, and work with colleagues, in the coming weeks as we prepare for the first Sunday opening and no one will be obliged to work on a Sunday if they choose not to.”

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Rev Kenneth Stewart, from Stornoway’s Reformed Presbyterian Church, had previously spoken of his opposition to the supermarket opening on Sundays.

“This is a place which has historically observed the Lord’s day,” he said last month.

“It’s something that’s woven very deeply into the fabric of the place and the heritage of the people. It’s a feature of life here that even those who are not committed Christians or church goers still value the distinctive nature of the Lord’s day.

“A decision like this by a place like Tesco has severe knock-on repercussions and the pressures on other people to change their way of life becomes increasingly greater.”

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