Pub hours extended to mark Queen’s 90th

UK pubs will be allowed to stay open longer for two days in June in honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday, Prime Minster David Cameron has confirmed.

Pub-goers will enjoy longer opening hours at pubs on the 10 and 11 June

During Prime Minister’s Questions today, Mr Cameron told MPs: “We will be extending pub opening hours on the 10th and 11th of June to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday.”

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), had written to the House of Commons earlier this year requesting the extension.

“On great national occasions such as this, pubs are the perfect place for people to come together and celebrate”, she said today.

The Queen celebrates two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on 21 April and her official birthday on a Saturday in June, this year 11 June.

The celebrations will start with a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s cathedral on 10 June, attended by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. The following day the traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony, also known as the Queen’s Birthday Parade, will be staged in Horse Guards Parade. On the Sunday, the Patron’s Lunch will be held in The Mall.

Currently pubs are able to open between the hours of 12pm and 11pm. While extended times have not been confirmed, it is likely that pubs will be able to stay open for an additional two hours until 1am, as was the case when opening times were extended during the 2014 World Cup, Royal Wedding and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. During these events the BBPA estimates that beer sales at pubs across the UK increased by “at least 5%” with food sales were up 8%, equating to a £20 million boost to the pub sector.

— No. 10 Press Office (@Number10press) March 23, 2016