Licensing hours

Explores regulations and changes around permitted trading times for hospitality venues in the UK, from pubs and bars to restaurants and late-night establishments. Coverage includes policy updates, local authority decisions, event-specific extensions, and case studies on operational impact, alongside insights into how trading hours influence staffing, customer behaviour, and revenue strategies.

Apr- 2025 -

22 April

Pubs and Bars

Pubs to stay open later as part of VE 80 celebrations

Prime minister Keir Starmer has ordered pubs and bars across the country to be able to keep serving until 1am to celebrate next month’s historic 80th anniversary of VE day. With parties planned across the country on 8 May 2025, venues with a usual closing time of 11pm will be…
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7 April

Government

Gov launches initative to cut red tape to boost British nightlife

Pubs, clubs and restaurants are set to be released from red tape which has stifled business as the government ‘backs the British night out’, after revealing its new Plan for Change initiative. Action includes moves to improve the application of licensing laws and strengthen businesses’ competitiveness, giving diners, pub and…
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Feb- 2025 -

25 February

Pubs and Bars

Home Office proposes Women’s Euros licensing relaxation

The Home Office is proposing a relaxation of licensing hours if any of the qualifying home nations reach the semi-final or final of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025. Licensing hours for these games are proposed to be extended from 11pm to 1am in England and Wales, which will be particularly…
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Jul- 2024 -

12 July

Pubs and Bars

Euros final to result in £120m boost for UK pubs

British pubs and bars are expected to benefit from a 50% rise in sales on Sunday (14 July) as England will be playing in the Euros final, according to UKHospitality. The boost in sales will be part of an almost billion-pound windfall from the tournament. Reaching the final also means…
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Nov- 2023 -

27 November

Trade Associations

Extended hours for Euro 2024 ‘essential’ for pubs and bars, says UKH

Hospitality trade body UKHospitality has warned it is “essential” that trading hours are extended for the semi-finals and final stage of the European Championships next summer. UKH chief Kate Nicholls said Euro 2024 is set to be a “huge event” for hospitality businesses next summer as fans pack pubs and…
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Apr- 2023 -

28 April

Features

Fast, fresh talent: 7 tips for sourcing hospitality talent at the last minute

Businesses always aim to get their staffing right. But in catering and hospitality things can be very unpredictable: there are times when restaurants, pubs and bars need to pull in last minute staff. The upcoming Coronation of King Charles III – and the four-day bank holiday around it – will…
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Dec- 2022 -

20 December

Restaurants

UKH backs plans to extend licensing laws for coronation

UKHospitality has backed plans to extend licensing hours in England and Wales to 1am for next year’s coronation celebrations for HM The King. The coronation is set to be a Bank Holiday weekend, and UKHospitality has said the trading boost could be “vital “ as the sector looks to revive…
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Mar- 2022 -

30 March

Pubs and Bars

Hospitality welcomes extended Platinum Jubilee licensing hours

The hospitality sector has welcomed the government’s confirmation that licenced premises will be able to extend their opening hours to 1am on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings of the special bank holiday weekend (2 to 5 June). UKHospitality applauded the temporary change in licensing rules for England and Wales,…
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Jan- 2022 -

11 January

Trade Associations

UKH calls for Platinum Jubilee extended licensing hours

UKHospitality has backed plans to extend licensing hours in England and Wales to 1am for this year’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations for HM The Queen. The trade association has said that the extension could give businesses “vital extra trading time” during the four-day weekend. Recent national celebrations that have seen longer…
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Nov- 2020 -

18 November

Coronavirus

Lack of progress shows ‘hospitality not the cause’, says SHG

Negative or slow trends in the battle against coronavirus are proving that Scotland’s pubs, restaurants and hotels are not the cause of the problem, according to the Scottish Hospitality Group. The hospitality group, which represents businesses including The DRG Group, Signature Pubs and G1 Group, made the comments following Nicola…
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