Pub licensing hours to be relaxed on Royal Wedding weekend

Pubs will be able to stay open until 1am on the nights of Friday 18 May and Saturday 19 May

Pub licensing hours across England and Wales will be relaxed on the weekend of the Royal Wedding, the Home Office has announced.

Pubs will be able to stay open until 1am on the nights of Friday 18 May and Saturday 19 May, the weekend when the FA Cup final will also take place.

The Government made the decision after it won support from the general public and stakeholders, including the hospitality sector and residents’ groups, during a four-week consultation.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the Royal Wedding was an opportunity for the country to “join together and celebrate”.

“As shown by the support for the proposal to extend licensing hours, it’s clear that the public back the idea of having more time to raise a glass to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on a day of national celebration”, Ms Rudd said.

The Home Secretary can make an order relaxing licensing hours for licensed premises in relation to a “celebration period” to mark an occasion of exceptional international, national or local significance.

Since the Act was introduced in 2003 extending licenses hours have been issued for a number of special occasions.

The wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations in 2016 have all been deemed acceptable reasons to extend opening hours.

Representatives from the licensed trade were extremely supportive of the proposed order and felt that extending licensing hours during the Royal Wedding would have an extremely positive effect on the pub sector.

Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said he was “delighted”.

“This will allow the nation to celebrate and raise a glass to Harry and Meghan in a responsible manner, whilst giving a timely boost to the great British beer and pub sector”, Ms Simmonds said.

The order will be in effect for a period of two hours on the two specified nights only.