UK pub hours extended for FA Cup and royal wedding

Those out celebrating the royal wedding and the FA Cup final in May will be able to do so into the small hours, after UK Parliament approved proposals to extend standard pub licensing hours until 1am.

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will take place on 19 May, the same day as the FA Cup final.

The extension, which was called for by the British Beer and Pub Association, means that any premise permitted to sell alcohol up to or beyond 11pm will be able to so until 1am in the early hours of the morning on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th May 2018.

The royal wedding itself will take place on Saturday 19 May, the same date of the FA Cup Final which will see Chelsea take on Manchester United.

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “I am delighted that Parliament has approved the order to extend pub opening hours which will save most pubs the cost of a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) and allows us all to celebrate.

“Our new fact sheet will help pubs across the country with their planning for the big weekend. A Royal Wedding is a great national celebration, and without doubt the best place to celebrate it is in a pub.”

The order is only for extended hours for consumption in the on-trade, in licensed premises. It is also important to note that this does include extensions for Regulated Entertainment.

The Licensing Act 2003 (Royal Wedding Licensing Hours) Order 2018 was approved in both Houses of Parliament, the House of Lords and the House of Commons, on the 1 May.

Guidance on the extension for landlords can be found here.