Proposed relaxation in licensing hours could be the icing on the Royal Wedding cake.

The Government has announced that is it undertaking a 4 week consultation for a proposed relaxation of licensing hours to mark the Royal Wedding under section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003. The consultation ends on 4th February 2018.

The proposal is to extend licensing hours on Friday 18th May 2018 until 1am on the morning of  Saturday 19th May 2018 (the Friday into the Saturday) and then Saturday 19th May 2018 until 1am on the morning of the 20th May 2018 (the Saturday into the Sunday. Some important points from the consultation document are:

1.The proposal applies only to licensed premises in England and Wales;

2.The proposal applies to the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and the provision of late night refreshment in on-trade licensed premises only. This means sales of alcohol off the premises would not benefit from the proposed extension;

3.Regulated entertainment is not included and should the relaxation in hours proceed, any premises wishing to extend their hours for entertainment (such as a live band for example) would need to apply for a Temporary Event Notice.

It is also worth noting that should the proposal go ahead any conditions which attach to the premises licence would apply for the additional hours.

The extension being proposed is until 1am only, and would therefore only be of benefit to those premises where alcohol sales currently have to cease before 1am. If your premises licence already permits you to sell alcohol until 1am then the relaxation in hours will not be of benefit to you. Should you want to apply to trade later than 1am, you would need to apply for a Temporary Event Notice.

We shall update you once further information is available.”

For further information on this or any other legal related licensing issues contact solicitor Andy Grimsey 0115 953 8500.