Waitrose will largely follow the typical Christmas opening and closing schedules seen across UK supermarkets, with most stores closed on key holiday dates while some locations maintain limited service.
On Christmas Day, only select Waitrose outlets situated at Welcome Break Service stations will remain open, operating as usual to serve customers traveling during the holiday.
Most Waitrose stores will be shut on Boxing Day, although a small number of these locations will continue to accept orders for delivery through platforms such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat.
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For New Year’s Day, the majority of Waitrose branches will again offer delivery services via these same third-party platforms, allowing customers to enjoy Waitrose products from home.
Waitrose’s ongoing store opening hours and holiday schedules can be conveniently checked using their online store finder tool.
Alongside the festive opening times, Waitrose rolled out significant updates to its loyalty programme in late 2025. The nationwide introduction of ‘Little Treats’ follows successful trials earlier in the year and aims to reward loyal customers with monthly surprises such as free items or shopping discounts.
Members of the My Waitrose programme earn these treats by simply shopping and scanning their loyalty card. Once spending thresholds of £50, £100, and £250 are reached, a ‘Little Treat’ voucher appears in the customer’s account, redeemable either online or in-store.
Alex Lovell, Waitrose’s Head of Loyalty, described ‘Little Treats’ as “a massive moment” in enhancing the My Waitrose experience, offering a personalized and rewarding shopping journey throughout the year.
This festive season, customers can benefit from both the holiday opening schedule and the new loyalty perks that add extra value to their Waitrose shopping trips.