The BBPA wants pub opening hours extended for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has called on the government to extend pub opening hours over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding weekend next year.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will marry in May next year.

Kensington Palace announced last week that the royal pair will marry on Saturday 19 May 2018.

The industry body’s chief executive Brigid Simmonds suggested the move in a tweet to the UK Home Office on Friday, suggesting that extended opening hours could “give a £10m boost to the trade.”

Past national celebrations where the government has successfully used the ‘special occasions order’ have included the Royal Wedding in 2011, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the 2014 World Cup and the Queen’s 90th Birthday in 2016.

So Royal Wedding on Saturday 19th May. How about extended hours for pubs to 1am on Friday & Saturday night? Previous extensions worth £10 million to pub and think of the feel good factor? @walshdominic @ukhomeoffice

— Brigid Simmonds BBPA (@BrigidSimmonds) December 15, 2017

According to the BBPA’s 2011 Beer barometer report, pub sales around the time of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding in 2011 saw a small boost, despite pub beer sales falling by 4.5% overall in the second financial quarter.

Simmonds said that another national celebration, which would see pub hours extended on both Friday 17 and Saturday 18 May, could provide a much-needed boost to the on-trade sector as Brexit looms.

“A Royal wedding is a great national celebration,” said Simmonds in an emailed statement, “and a wonderful opportunity for us all to get together in the pub.”

“I know this would be warmly welcomed by pubgoers and the pub trade. It would put pubs at the heart of the celebrations, something which has been a great success for previous major Royal events.

“I hope the Government will embrace this idea.