Beaverbrooks, the family-owned British jeweller, will close all 82 of its stores on Boxing Day this year, continuing a tradition that dates back 107 years. The company, founded in 1919 in Belfast, will shut its high street locations on Boxing Day in addition to Christmas Day, allowing all 1,200 staff to spend extra time with their families over the festive period.
The luxury retailer will therefore sit out the Boxing Day shopping rush. Staff will also receive an extra week's salary in December as a token of the chain's appreciation. To ensure employees can fully enjoy the holidays, Beaverbrooks Group will close all four of its upscale Loupe boutiques for the festive season.
Managing Director on Putting Colleagues First
Managing director Anna Blackburn said it is important for the company to give their "colleagues some well-deserved time to relax and enjoy quality time with friends and family after a busy festive season".
She added: "We firmly believe that putting our colleagues first helps create a more engaged and motivated workforce, enabling our teams to deliver the exceptional service our customers know and trust us for. For 107 years, we've been proud to put our people at the heart of Beaverbrooks, and we're delighted to continue this longstanding tradition of recognising and rewarding our colleagues."
Recognition and Retail Footfall Trends
Beaverbrooks was recognised as Employer of the Year at the 2026 Professional Jeweller Awards, as well as the Number 1 Best Retailer to Work For in the UK at the Best Companies Awards 2025, and placed 22nd in Best Companies to Work For in the UK.
In recent years, Boxing Day sales have fallen flat, with many shoppers feeling the pinch. Across all UK retail destinations, footfall slipped in 2025 by 0.3%, according to monitoring company MRI Software. There were also 2.4% fewer visitors on Britain's high streets than on Boxing Day 2024, while there was a 2.6% slide in the number of people going to shopping centres.
Boxing Day's Role in Retail Calendar
Boxing Day has traditionally marked the beginning of the winter season sales for retailers in the UK. Before that, in late November, customers look for a pre-Christmas bargain during Black Friday, followed a few days later by Cyber Monday.
