Trade fears mount over licensing hours on Jubilee weekend

Trade leaders have warned that licensing hours may restrict celebrations planned for the Queen's Golden Jubilee next year.

Ministers have approved plans for a blanket extension until 1am on Monday June 3 2002 but some trade leaders fear this will lead to magistrates reconsidering applications for the other four days of the special Bank Holiday weekend which runs from June 1 to 4.

Event organisers met with trade leaders last month to discuss the celebration and a guide will be issued to licensees offering advice on how to maximise profits.

But Martin Rawlings, spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), said there was concern that magistrates in some areas would consider the 1am extension enough and turn down applications for the weekend of June 1 and 2.

Georgina Wald, public relations manager at the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), said she was disappointed that licensing hours had not been extended on Sunday June 2 and hoped magistrates would take a relaxed approach to individual applications.

She added: "We will be encouraging all our members to party and we will be sending out copies of the guide on how to take part."

A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said that plans for the blanket extension had yet to be confirmed and rubber-stamped by Parliament.Bruno Peek, chairman of the Golden Jubilee Summer Party which is organising the national event, said that every pub in the country should hold a party.

"It can only prove beneficial to licensees," Mr Peek said. "While it is a four-day weekend and both Monday and Tuesday will be Bank Holidays, we are urging every pub in the country to hold an all-day party on the Monday."

He suggested that licensees could decorate their pubs in the colours of the British flag and run themed promotions.

Organisers of the Golden Jubilee Summer Party are asking all licensees who are planning to hold a party to register with them by March 1 next year. This will allow the organisation to include details of events on its website so customers will know what's going on in their local pub.

Pubs can register by email at info@goldenjubileesummerparty.co.uk.