MANY of us will be preparing to face the big Christmas food shop over the coming days.

It’s time to sharpen those elbows and brave the dash to buy your turkey, sprouts and stuffing.

If you’re planning when to hit the supermarket over the festive period, then here are the opening times for our stores across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Aldi

Aldi has extended its opening times for the festive season with stories open between 7am and 10pm Monday to Friday.

Store opening times may vary, so you’ll need to check the Store Finder on the Aldi website for specific stores but here are the general opening times:

Monday, December 19: 7am to 10pm

Tuesday, December 20: 7am to 10pm

Wednesday, December 21: 7am to 10pm

Thursday, December 22: 7am to 10pm

Friday, December 23: 7am to 10pm

Christmas Eve: 7am to 10pm

Christmas Day: closed

Boxing Day: closed

Tuesday, December 27: 8am to 8pm

Wednesday, December 28: 8am to 8pm

Thursday, December 29: 8am to 8pm

Friday, December 30: 8am to 8pm

Saturday, December 31: 8am to 6pm

Sunday, January 1: closed

Monday, January 2: 8am to 8pm

Tuesday, January 3: 8am to 10pm

Sainsbury's

Monday, December 19: 6am to 11pm

Tuesday, December 20: 6am to 11pm

Wednesday, December 21: 6am to 11pm

Thursday, December 22: 6am to 11pm

Friday, December 23: 6am to 11pm

Christmas Eve: 6am to 7pm

Christmas Day: closed

Boxing Day: 10am to 5pm

Tuesday, December 27: 8am to 8pm

New Year's Eve: 7am to 7pm

Monday, January 2 : 8am to 8pm 

Waitrose

Waitrose said most stores will operate extended hours in the days leading up to Christmas Eve, although this varies from store to store.

The Christchurch branch will be open from 8am to 10pm between December 19 and 23 with the Parkstone store open between 8am and 9pm on December 19 and 20 and then from 8am to 10pm December 21, 22 and 23. 

Customers are advised to check individual branches on the Waitrose website. 

On Christmas Eve, the majority of stores will open from 7am to 6pm, and 8am to 6pm on New Year's Eve. 

On Christmas Day and Boxing Day, stores will be closed. 

On New Year's Day, stores will be closed, with the exception of a "small number" which will have varying opening hours between 7am and 10pm.

Tesco

Branksome Superstore, Poole Road

Christmas Eve: midnight to 6pm

Christmas Day: closed

Boxing Day: 9am to 6pm

New Year's Eve: 6am to 6pm

New Year's Day: closed

Bournemouth Extra, Riverside Avenue

Christmas Eve: midnight to 6pm

Christmas Day: closed

Boxing Day: 9am to 6pm

New Year's Eve: 6am to 6pm

New Year's Day: 10am to 4pm

Poole Fleets Corner Extra, Waterloo Road 

Christmas Eve: midnight to 6pm

Christmas Day: closed

Boxing Day: 9am to 6pm

New Year's Eve: 6am to 6pm

New Year's Day: 10am to 4pm

Poole Extra, Yarrow Road, Tower Park 

Christmas Eve: midnight to 6pm

Christmas Day: closed

Boxing Day: 9am to 6pm

New Year's Eve: 6am to 6pm

New Year's Day: 10am to 4pm

Asda 

Monday, December 19: 6am to 12am

Tuesday, December 20: 6am to 12am

Wednesday, December 21: 6am to 12am

Thursday, December 22: 6am to 12am

Friday, December 23: 6am to 12am

Christmas Eve: 6am to 7pm

Christmas Day: closed

Boxing Day: 9am to 6pm

Tuesday, December 27: 8am to 8pm

Wednesday, December 28: 7am to 12am

Thursday, December 29: 7am to 12am

Friday, December 30: 7am to 12am

New Year's Eve: 7am to 7pm

New Year's Day: 10am to 4pm

Monday, January 2: 8am to 8pm

Lidl 

Monday, December 19: 7am to 10pm

Tuesday, December 20: 7am to 10pm

Wednesday, December 21: 7am to 10pm

Thursday, December 22: 7am to 10pm

Friday, December 23: 7am to 10pm

Christmas Eve: 7am to 6pm 

Christmas Day: closed

Boxing Day: closed

Tuesday, December 27: 7am to 10pm

Wednesday, December 28: 7am to 10pm

Thursday, December 29: 7am to 10pm

Friday, December 30: 7am to 10pm

New Year's Eve: 7am to 7pm 

New Year's Day: closed 

Monday, January 2: 7am to 8pm 

Morrisons

Christmas Eve: 6am to 6pm 

Christmas Day: Closed 

Boxing Day: 9am to 6pm 

New Year's Eve: 7am to 7pm 

New Year's Day: 10am to 4pm

Monday, January 2: 7am to 8pm