Extra time to celebrate Royal Wedding

Pubs, bars and other licensed venues could be allowed to open to sell alcohol and put on entertainment until 1 am to celebrate the Royal Wedding under plans announced by the Home Office today.

A two-week public consultation has been launched asking for views on extending opening hours on Friday 29 April and Saturday 30 April 2011 - allowing many premises to open for an extra two hours and put on live music and other forms of entertainment if they choose to mark the special occasion.

It is estimated that around 67 per cent of on-trade licensed premises, like pubs and bars, close before midnight. Currently licence holders have the option of applying to their local council for a Temporary Event Notice at a cost of £21.00 if they wish to extend their opening hours. Relaxing the licensing laws for the Royal Wedding will mean they will not have to do this, making celebrating the event easier for businesses too.

Minister for Crime Prevention James Brokenshire said: "The Royal Wedding is a time of national celebration and we want everyone to be able to participate.

"We recognise that people may want to extend their festivities to mark this important occasion which is why we intend to allow pubs, bars, community and village halls and other licensed venues to be able to open later."