Government confirms extended opening hours for pubs and bars for VE Day

Today the Government has made law the Licensing Act 2003 (Victory in Europe Day Licensing Hours) Order 2025 (“The Order”).

The Order, which was initially announced back in April, confirms that pubs and bars that are currently licensed to sell alcohol on the premises until 23:00 will be able to stay open for an extra two hours tonight, Thursday 8th May, allowing them to sell alcohol on the premises until 01:00 in the early hours of Friday, 9th May.

This licensing extension is a celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, more commonly known as VE Day.

The Order confirms that the extension applies to premises licences and club premises certificates which are already permitted to sell alcohol on the premises until at least 11pm on Thursday, 8th May.

This applies to England and Wales only.

The extension does not apply to premises licensed for the sale of alcohol off the premises or regulated entertainment and only applies to late night refreshment if the premises licence or club premises certificate already has the permission to sell alcohol on the premises.

The Order applies for the evening of 8th May only.

For further information on this or any other licensing issues, please contact Licensing Solicitor, Felix Faulkner, on f.faulkner@popall.co.uk, or call 07495 497199.