Call to extend pub opening hours after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce wedding date

15-Dec-2017 - Last updated on 08-Mar-2024 at 17:42 GMT

Celebration time: call for extended pub hours over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding weekend

Related tags Charles prince of wales Royal wedding

British Beer & Pub Association's (BBPA) chair Brigid Simmonds has suggested extending opening hours on Friday 18 May 2018 and Saturday 19 May 2018 after Kensington Palace announced the date of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding last week.

The pair confirmed their engagement in November and said the service would be at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

On Friday (15 December) Kensington Palace announced that the wedding will take place on Saturday 19 May 2018.

His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms. Meghan Markle will marry on 19th May 2018.

Today's announcement follows earlier confirmation of the month of the wedding and its location at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. pic.twitter.com/7pgdRM90Na
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 15, 2017

Celebrating, Simmonds took to Twitter and explained to the UK Home Office how the wedding could prove beneficial to pubs up and down the country.

"A Royal wedding is a great national celebration, and a wonderful opportunity for us all to get together in the pub," she said.

"I know this would be warmly welcomed by pubgoers 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.”

So Royal Wedding on Saturday 19th May. How about extended hours for pubs to 1am on Friday & Saturday night? Previous extensions worth £10 million to pub and think of the feel good factor? @walshdominic @ukhomeoffice
— Brigid Simmonds BBPA (@BrigidSimmonds) December 15, 2017

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.