The government is consulting on whether to relax licensing hours across England and Wales to mark the His Majesty the King’s coronation on the 6 May 2023. The government proposes to make a licensing hours order under section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003 which would extend opening hours from 11pm to 1am on Friday 5 May, Saturday 6 May and Sunday 7 May, ending on Monday 8 May 2023, for the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and the provision of regulated entertainment in licensed premises in England and Wales.

The government has decided that, were it to relax licensing hours nationally following this consultation, this would relate to the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises only and the provision of late-night refreshment in on-trade licensed premises. The government believes that the on-trade provision of late-night refreshment in licensed premises would be appropriate to accompany a relaxation of alcohol licensing hours to mark the His Majesty the King’s coronation, not least to support people to drink responsibly.

The government considers that any national relaxation of licensing hours should not apply to the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises (i.e., in supermarkets and off-licences) as anyone wishing to mark the occasion at home will be able to buy alcohol during normal shopping hours. Late-night refreshment venues, by definition, are already licensed to open late at night and would not benefit from a relaxation in licensing hours. Unlicensed premises would also not benefit from a relaxation in licensing hours and would still need to give a temporary event notice (TEN) to undertake licensable activities.

The purpose of any national relaxation of licensing hours to mark His Majesty the King’s coronation would be to enable pubs and other on-trade premises to sell alcohol and late-night refreshment to those wishing to extend their celebrations of His Majesty The King’s Coronation beyond their normal licensing hours over the extended bank holiday period.

The consultation closes on 23 January 2023.

IoL Response

The IoL has responded to this consultation (20th January 2023) with no objections to the proposals for the extension of hours in England and Wales.