Pubs and bars must make most of Jubilee weekend

Pubs and bars are being urged to make the most of extended licensing hours over the Platinum Jubilee weekend.

The government has confirmed licenced premises in England and Wales will be able to extend their opening hours to 1am on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings of the special bank holiday weekend, which runs from 2 to 5 June.

Industry body UKHospitality has applauded the temporary change in licensing rules, for which it had campaigned strongly.

Having missed out on two years of full and unrestricted trading over dates such as Christmas, Mother’s Day and Easter, this summer’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations to mark 70 years of the Queen’s reign represents an opportunity for pubs and bars across the UK looking to boost the recovery.

“We welcome that the government has seen the importance of extending licensing hours for an occasion as momentous as the Platinum Jubilee weekend, when pubs and bars are likely to be a focus of community celebrations," says UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls. “The boost to business will be very welcome for operators facing soaring costs and plummeting consumer confidence. With the higher 20% rate of VAT also set to return for the sector in April, businesses will need to capitalise on every opportunity to drive revenue if they are to have any hope of recovery post-pandemic.”

The trade body is also calling for the relaxation of pavement licences to be made permanent in order to aid businesses in the industry. Responding to a recent Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) call earlier this month for views on pavement licences, UKHospitality said the temporary scheme should become permanent, pointing to their success in helping businesses survive. The move would be a ‘low-cost, low admin’ helping hand for the sector, it said.

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