Parliament is set to pass an order extending licensing hours over the Jubilee weekend
Pubs across England and Wales will be allowed to stay open until 1am over the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend.
From Thursday June 2 to Saturday June 4, venues across England and Wales will be allowed to continue serving customers for an extra two hours to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty’s reign.
Parliament will pass an order on Monday (April 25) to extend licensing hours.
Section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003 allows Home Secretary Priti Patel to lay an order giving permission for premises to stay open longer to mark occasions of exceptional significance.
The decision to extend opening hours comes after a month-long public consultation, in which people submitted their views about the plans. The consultation also took into account issues raised by stakeholders such as the police, licensing authorities and alcohol awareness groups.
Previous national events that have seen the Government extend opening times include the 2011 and 2018 royal weddings, the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016, and the Fifa World Cup in 2014.
Confirming the plans, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “For 70 years Her Majesty The Queen has served the UK and the Commonwealth with the utmost dignity, steadfastness and resolve.
“The Platinum Jubilee is a truly historic national occasion, which will see families, friends and communities across the country come together to celebrate this unprecedented landmark in a remarkable reign.
“Over the extended Bank Holiday weekend, we will be able to raise a glass to toast Her Majesty’s incredible service to our country, while also providing a boost to the hospitality industry after a challenging couple of years.”
The extended opening hours will not cover premises that sell alcohol for consumption off their premises, such as supermarkets and off-licenses.
Along with the extended opening hours, other events planned for the bank holiday weekend include a live concert featuring some of the world’s biggest artists, a day at the races, and a Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London.
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