Pubs to open to 1am for royal wedding celebrations
All pubs will be allowed to stay open until 1am for two nights during the royal wedding celebrations, the Government has said.
The Home Office has proposed a "modest relaxation" of the licensing hours to allow alcohol to be sold in pubs until 1am on 29 and 30 April. Live and recorded music, dancing, plays and films will also be permitted.
Crime Prevention Minister James Brokenshire told MPs: "These are the days when people are most likely to want to celebrate."
The plans, which are subject to a Home Office consultation, use powers that enable the Home Secretary to relax opening hours for licensed premises "to mark occasions of exceptional international, national or local significance".
The move was welcomed by industry bodies. Kate Nicholls, strategic affairs director at the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR), said: "Britain's pubs and bars have a key role to play in delivering the kind of community celebrations and parties the couple said they wanted to see mark their wedding. We are delighted that ministers have listened and have made it much easier for all pubs to join in without the need to make costly applications to their local authority. We are sure it will be a showcase for what the industry is world famous for - British hospitality at its best."
British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: "With state-of-the-art TV, great food and hospitality, pubs will be right at the heart of the royal wedding celebrations, and are the perfect place to enjoy the day. Looking forward to 2012, let's hope we can do the same for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee."
The royal wedding takes place at Westminster Abbey on Friday 29 April, which has been designated an official public holiday.
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By Neil Gerrard
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