Much of Sussex will come to a standstill for the Queen Mother's funeral on Tuesday.

Work in many shops, schools and offices will be suspended as people gather around televisions and radios.

Ironically, the only pub in the county to bear her portrait on its sign will remain open - though the Queen Mother, who liked a gin and Dubonnet or even the occasional pint of bitter, would doubtless have approved.

Lee Norcott, landlord of the Queen's Head in Icklesham, near Rye, said the funeral service would be shown on the pub's television.

He said: "Like it has been for everyone else, it has all happened at such short notice that we haven't really been able to arrange anything special."

With four days to go until the funeral, plans are still being made by businesses across Sussex.

Some bookmakers, supermarkets and sports centres plan to close as a mark of respect. Other places have decided not to change their routine.

Graham Whittaker, manager of Portslade Sports Centre, which is closing from 11am to 2pm, said: "I think you cannot underestimate the influence of the Queen Mother on the country over the last century.

"As a mark of respect I think we should all try to be somewhere where we can watch the funeral."

East Sussex County Council and Lewes Town Council plan a service at the War Memorial in Lewes at 11am.

A county council spokeswoman said: "Employees are invited to go to the memorial service and we will have televisions available to watch the funeral."

Major supermarket chains have also decided to shut their doors for part of the working day.

Asda has confirmed that both its Hollingbury and Brighton Marina stores will be closed from 10.30am to 1pm so staff can watch the funeral.

Waitrose shops in Brighton, Burgess Hill, Chichester and Horsham will shut until 2pm.

A Waitrose spokeswoman said: "The shops will be staffed as for a normal day but provisions are being made for staff who wish to watch the funeral service on television."

Sir Stuart Hampson, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, which runs Waitrose, said: "Our decision is in response to the wishes of our staff and we sense our customers will consider it a fitting arrangement too.

"It is also particularly appropriate as two of our department stores, as well as Waitrose, hold royal warrants from the late Queen Mother. She was a very special customer."

All Tesco and Sainsbury's stores will be closed from 10.30am to 1pm.

The British Horseracing Board said there would be no racing in Britain on the day of the funeral and as a result most bookmakers in Sussex are closing.

A spokesman for William Hill, which has shops in Brighton, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Littlehampton, Arundel, West Tarring and Hove, said: "We are closing our shops all day as a mark of respect to the Queen Mother because of her connections with racing."

The National Trust has decided to close all its houses, shops and restaurants. Its parks and gardens will remain open for quiet contemplation.

Courts across the county will also be shut.

Like the Queen's Head, many pubs have decided to remain open during the ceremony but will let customers follow the funeral on television or radio.

Polly Sleet, owner of the Royal Standard in Queens Road, Brighton, said: "We have had a picture of the Queen Mum on display in the pub since Sunday.

"We do not have a television in the pub so we will listen to it on the radio. We will have a two-minute silence and then have a drink to the lovely person she was."

Workers at American Express in Brighton will have the chance to follow the funeral on a television hired for the occasion.

Family Assurance in West Street, Brighton, has placed TV sets in staff rooms and work will stop for a two-minute silence at 11.30am.

Schools throughout East Sussex are expected to change their timetables to allow children to watch the funeral on television.

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said arrangements would be left up to the individual school.

In West Sussex, schools will still be on holiday.

Some organisations have yet to decide how to mark the occasion.

A spokeswoman for Southern Water said: "We will be marking the day in an appropriate manner but are waiting to see what the industry does nationally."

Roger French of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company said: "If others in the transport industry do something then we will follow suit."

With no official guidelines from Buckingham Palace or the Government, some companies have decided not to do anything.

A spokeswoman for British Telecom said: "We will be carrying on as normal but if individual managers can spare staff to catch the funeral on television, it is up to them."

Legal and General made a similar decision. A spokeswoman said: "We are going to continue with business as usual but we have told staff if they want to take off a day as holiday to pay their respects we will try to accommodate them."

A Seeboard spokesman said: "We provide an essential service which our customers expect us to maintain during this sad time."

The Alliance and Leicester bank and Shoreham port also confirmed it would be business as usual.

The Arndale Centre in Eastbourne will stay open, though individual stores may close for part of the day.

Yesterday many banks in Eastbourne had also not yet been informed of opening arrangements from their head offices.

Worthing Museum and Art Gallery in Chapel Road will remain open.

Worthing Leisure Centre in Shaftsbury Avenue and Davison Leisure Centre in Selbourne Road, Worthing, will also stay open.

Beales, one of the largest department stores in Worthing, will not shut, though the Guildbourne Centre in the town centre will close.