Poll reveals longer hours are popular
A total of 30% of UK consumers are making use of flexible opening hours a year after reform was introduced, an exclusive poll for the Morning Advertiser has revealed.
According to a poll of 1,999 consumers conducted for the MA by Harris Interactive, young men aged 18 to 24 are the most enthusiastic about longer licensing hours, with 70% saying they have stayed in the pub later. But the rest of the population is also responding positively, with one in three having visited pubs later than they used to.
Harris International senior researcher Caterina Gerlotto said: "It is mainly young people who use circuit pubs, so it is not surprising that they are most likely to use the longer opening hours, with 62% of all young people saying they have stayed in pubs later.
"What is surprising is that almost one in five young men say they stay past the old 11pm curfew every time they visit the pub," she added.
Older people are the least likely to stay in pubs later, and only one in 10 women say they have stayed past 11pm.
Of the 30% of older customers who stay out later, the majority (60%) do so at the weekend. This trend is especially true in the north east, where a staggering 79% of consumers say they now stay later than 11pm.
Over a quarter (26%) of consumers spend more than they used to when they have stayed in a pub past 11pm.
This compares with the north east, where 48% of people say they are spending more, and the Midlands, where just 15% spend more.
l A survey of 127 local authority licensing officers has revealed that 69% believe longer opening hours have reduced the number of post-closing flashpoints.
l Licensing reform: one year on - p23-35
no-one in the uk is open 24 hours
Not a single pub in Britain opens 24-hours a day a year after the start of the new licensing regime.
Although around 240 pubs and clubs were granted 24-hour licences, most have extended trade by just one or two hours. The rural district of North Norfolk granted a total of 74 round-the-clock licences - 36 for pubs and clubs.
The council welcomed applications for 24-hour licences to allow flexibility. "No-one has actually opened for 24 hours," licensing officer Tony Gent told the MA.
"We have had little or no problems. Before 24 November we had four late night venues and guess what? We still have four late night venues. Most pubs open a bit later on weekends but the latest they go to is usually 12.30 am or 1 am."
Gent carried out his own survey of people who had objected to licensing applications. "The majority have not noticed a difference. The noise is more subdued but perhaps lasts longer. I think the licensees have been very adult about the hours and it has been working very well.".
