Bars could open late for royal wedding
● PUBS and bars in Halton could stay open until the early hours for the royal wedding later this year of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The Government has launched a public consultation on plans to extend licensing hours on the nights of Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 19, until 1am the following morning.
Licensing hours orders have previously been made for occasions of national significance including the Queen’s 90th birthday, the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, and the World Cup in 2014.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: “The royal wedding will be a time of national celebration, and we want everyone to be able to make the most of such an historic occasion.
“I hope that this relaxation of the licensing hours will allow people to extend their festivities and come together to mark what will be a very special moment for the country.”
The Government proposes to make a licensing hours order under Section 172 of the Licensing Act, which would extend opening hours for the sale of alcohol to benefit those premises in England and Wales which are not normally licensed until 1am.
The four-week public consultation will give Halton residents the opportunity to submit their views on the proposals.
The Government will also seek the views of specific stakeholders, including the police, licensing authorities and alcohol awareness groups.
British Beer And Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “This is great news for pubs and pub-goers and shows the government has listened to our calls to put pubs at the heart of royal wedding celebrations.
“Visitors see the great British pub as a cultural icon, almost as much as the Royal Family.
“Extended hours would give a £10m boost to the trade and make the most of the expected increase in tourism.”
The royal wedding will coincide with the FA Cup Final.
There have been no reports of increased disorder as a result of the previous extensions to licensing hours including the extension for the weekend of the Queen’s 90th birthday, which coincided with two Euro 2016 matches involving England and Wales, and the extension of licensing hours during the World Cup 2014.