Answer Base

Does someone know whether i can spend these at shops as they are or have to go to a bank and plead my case for an exchange of notes? they were ripped off at the ends but when i have applied sellotape to put it back together they look as they should do i.e. no missing parts. these were not ripped through the watermark and the matching note numbers are still readable (although slightly torn on one note)

In short yes the note is still legal tender so you could spend it at a shop, they could refuse to accept the note but that would be more a case of there company policy than the legality of the note. so you selotaped the note back together and try the shops as they would still be legal tender if both halves of the note show the serial number the same serial number. if you wanna be sure you can take them back to any bank or uk post office where they will normally be able to exchange them for you if you ask them to.