Christmas and Bank Holiday Hours on Google: UK Checklist

Set special hours on your Google Business Profile before every UK bank holiday and the Christmas period, so customers see when you’re really open. Go to Edit profile → Hours → Special hours, add each date, and save. Remember that bank holidays differ between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (gov.uk).

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Why do Christmas and bank holiday hours matter on Google? If Google shows you as open when you’re closed, customers turn up to a locked door or ring with no answer, and some will leave a poor review. If you show as closed when you’re actually open, you lose customers to competitors who show as open. Special hours fix both.

How do I add special hours? 1. Open your Google Business Profile and choose Edit profile, then Hours. 2. Under Special hours, add each date: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. 3. Add the other bank holidays too: Good Friday, Easter Monday, the early May and spring bank holidays and the summer bank holiday. Scotland and Northern Ireland have some different dates, so check the GOV.UK bank holidays page. 4. Save, and check the hours show correctly on Google search and Maps.

Google sometimes sends reminders before holidays asking you to confirm hours. Answer them; a confirmed profile looks more reliable to customers.

What else should I update? – Your website’s contact page and footer – Any emergency or call-out arrangements, such as “emergency call-outs available on Boxing Day” – Facebook and other directory listings – Your phone voicemail message

Should I post on Google about holiday hours? Yes. A short post with your holiday hours and last booking date is useful for customers. For shops, add last order dates for Christmas delivery as well.