St George's Day hailed as 'best ever'

Licensees have hailed St George's Day as the best ever with a record number of pubs using the event to combine patriotism with profit.

Operators reported unprecedented support for celebrations among customers. Events held ranged from quizzes and karaoke to English banquets and Yorkshire pudding-eating competitions.

Licensee Tony Bennett of The Otter in Norwich, who appealed in court to get an hour extension, said: "It was absolutely superb, just like New Year's Eve all over again. Everyone stayed and had a great time and we were packed until the very end."

Mr Bennett had to declare the celebrations a charity fundraiser to get special hours, as Norwich magistrates did not believe St George's Day qualified.

His case is just one example of the struggle across England to make licensing boards recognise the day. To qualify for an hours extension, pubs must prove an event is "special".

But landlord David Wiggins believes the trade has turned the corner after "the best St George's Day yet". His pub, The Prince of Wales in Tunbridge Wells was granted an extra hour - in the name of St George.

Mr Wiggins said: "The point is we have broken the mould. This was the first time we applied for an extension and it was a brilliant day.

"There is a great groundswell towards celebrating St George's Day. It went off with out a hitch so why would our application be turned down in the future?"

Mr Wiggins, who ran an English food evening with comedy and karaoke, said his trade was "easily 100 per cent up" for the day.

Charles Wells, the brewer of Bombardier ale that has campaigned for a public bank holiday in the name of St George, saw 14 of its managed houses granted an extension in trading hours.

More licensees than ever before got behind St George and pub groups including Fuller's, Mitchells & Butlers, Punch and Shepherd Neame backed the day.

Publican Mark Welsh, of The Nightingale at Bicester, added: "We had no idea how it would go. Everyone had fun and in 10 years in the trade I have never seen such support for St George's Day."