Swap Jubilee extended opening hours says pub body
By: JimOldfield
May 28th, 2012
The British Beer and Pub Association is calling for the Government to sanction extended opening hours on next year’s special double Bank Holiday – to give the Queen “the massive national thank you she so richly deserves” on her Diamond Jubilee in June.
The BBPA wants later opening on the Sunday and Monday of the holiday – instead of extended hours already planned for the Friday and Saturday of the weekend.
The BBPA says extra hours on Friday and Saturday would be too much ‘business-as-usual’, while not covering Sunday would cause particular problems, given that many pubs still close early on Sunday under their existing licences.
BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “It’s hard to imagine a more special event in the life of Britain than the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – and pubs should be at the heart of the celebrations, without the red tape around late opening hours.
“The Government is right to recognise the need for extra opening hours, and extra hours worked brilliantly for the Royal Wedding with no problems – pubs really do need the same for the Jubilee Sunday and Monday evenings.”
