A recent poll on a social media group for licensees revealed that only one percent of pubs was going to be staying open an extra 2 hours.
At the time of writing a huge 88% of respondents said they would be closing at the normal time, while a further 10% said they would play it by ear and close when they think its right to do so.
Commenting on the Facebook survey on the Pub Owners Network Group, one operator, David Sansom, said: “I don’t know a single person from outside the trade or isn’t already a pub regular who is intending to go to the pub this evening.”
Government soundbite
Another, Chris Caldwell, added: “Despite the magnitude of the event and the importance it holds for people, there simply isn’t the appetite to celebrate it by staying open late on a school night.
“It’s merely a Government soundbite, in my opinion it should have been a bank holiday like the Queens Platinum Jubilee.”
The Government announced the licensing hours extension in mid April, claiming the ability for pubs to stay open beyond 11pm to 1pm, which some in the trade said would provide a “much-needed boost” to businesses.
The decision was welcomed by the leaders of trade associations, including UKHospitality, the British Beer and Pub Association and the Night Time Industries Association.
Consumer behaviour
However the move was criticised by many operators, who pointed out the change in consumer behaviours showed people were going out earlier, and heading home earlier.
Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, William Lees-Jone, MD of JW Lees brewery in Manchester, said: “Just when pubs are starting to close earlier post-lockdown. We are definitely noticing food pubs closing at 9.30pm owing to people eating earlier.”
That Beer Place, a bar in Chester, responded with “absolutely pointless”, while other commenters pointed out people still had to work on Friday.