Bank holiday confirmed for 19 September

Monday 19 September, the date of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral, will be a national bank holiday.

While this will allow individuals, businesses and other organisations to pay their respects to Her Majesty and commemorate her reign, pubs and bars are now preparing for what will be a particularly busy day for the on-trade. 

Monday 19 September will also be the final day of the period of national mourning.

This bank holiday, which takes place across the United Kingdom, will operate in the same way as other bank holidays, and there is no statutory entitlement to time off. Employers may include bank holidays as part of a worker’s leave entitlement.

The government has encouraged employers to respond sensitively to requests from workers who wish to take time off.

"Pubs and bars should check their licences to see if the designation of the bank holiday (on 19 September) has any implications for their trading on the day preceding the funeral, Sunday 18 September, and also on the day of the funeral itself," says Ewen Macgregor, partner at UK law firm TLT. "For example, additional trading hours may be permitted on both of these days and there may be the requirement for door supervisors to be present.

"If premises are looking to open earlier than permitted on 19 September, to provide customers with breakfast/non-alcoholic drinks, we would recommend pubs and bars to contact their local licensing police officer and council licensing officer to advise them of plans."

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