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Extra time to toast the Royal Wedding
Pubs, bars and other licensed premises may be allowed to open for longer on 29 April 2011 in order to celebrate the Royal Wedding.
A two week public consultation on the proposals has been launched, so have your say before 26 January.
The proposals would allow pubs and bars to open an extra two hours and put on live music and other forms of entertainment if they choose to mark the special occasion.
The crime prevention minister, James Brokenshire said: "We recognise that people may want to extend their festivities to mark this important occasion which is why we intend to allow pubs, bars, community and village halls and other licensed venues to be able to open later."
Consultation
It is estimated that around 67 per cent of on-trade licensed premises, like pubs and bars, close before midnight.
Currently licence holders have the option of applying to their local council for a temporary event notice if they wish to extend their opening hours. Under these proposals they would not have to do this.
The consultation will run until Wednesday 26 January 2011.
Wedding arrangements
Details about the wedding day will be announced by Clarence House, the official residence of the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Princes William and Harry.
Royal wedding public holiday
The Royal Household has announced that the wedding of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton is to take place at Westminster Abbey on Friday 29 April 2011. The day will be marked by a public holiday.
The Royal Family will pay for the wedding, following the precedents set by the marriages of The Prince and Princess of Wales in 1981 and Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1947.
Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed the announcement and said: “the wedding of Kate and William will be a happy and momentous occasion. We want to mark the day as one of national celebration, a public holiday will ensure the most people possible will have a chance to celebrate on the day.”
Scottish Bank Holiday confirmed
The Scottish Cabinet has confirmed that Scotland will have a public holiday on the day of the Royal Wedding. First Minister Alex Salmond extended his warmest congratulations to Prince William and Miss Middleton. He added, "The wedding day will take place during the Scottish election period, which has implications for the electoral and parliamentary timetable." The date of the Scottish Parliament election is May 5. The Scottish Parliament is due to be dissolved on March 23; this date may change slightly due to the extra holiday.
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