The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) is calling for extended pub hours on May 19 next year — the day of the royal wedding — claiming it would give a £10m boost to the trade.
Arguing that there’s no better way to celebrate a royal wedding than at the pub, the BBPA wants to see extra hours for Friday and Saturday night, May 18 and 19.
Past national celebrations where the government has successfully used the special occasions order have included the royal wedding in 2011, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the 2014 World Cup and the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016.
BBPA chief executive, Brigid Simmonds, said: “A royal wedding is a great national celebration, and a wonderful opportunity for us all to get together in the pub. I know this would be warmly welcomed by pub-goers and the pub trade.
“It would put pubs at the heart of the celebrations, something which has been a great success for previous major royal events. I hope the government will embrace this idea.”
