Boost for Pubs ahead of King Charles III’s Coronation
Pub-goers celebrating the King’s Coronation will be able to indulge in a few more drinks post 11pm as clubs and pubs have been permitted to stay up until the wee hours of the morning.
Pubs and social clubs across England and Wales will be able to continue serving customers for an extra two hours between Friday 5th May and Sunday 7th May.
Confirmed by the Home Secretary, licensing hours will be extended to 1am, up from the normal 11pm, to allow people to enjoy King’s Charles’ Coronation Day.
Why have the Government extended Pub Opening Hours?
An extension to opening hours is temporarily permissible under Section 172 of The Licensing Act. Licensing hours have previously been extended, such as for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
The extended opening hours for 2023 will be in place on the dates of Friday 5th May, Saturday 6th May, and Sunday 7th May. Moving from 11pm to 1am allows pub to increase their earnings on what is expected to be a bumper weekend for the hospitality industry. Bars and pubs have faced severe challenges, be it from inflation, goods cost increases, closures and fallout from the pandemic, so this Coronation weekend can provide pubs with that well-needed boost.
What Coronation events to televise at your pub?
The celebration weekend begins on Saturday May 6th, with their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort will arrive at Westminster Abbey in procession from Buckingham Palace, known as ‘The King’s Procession’. The King will be crowned at Westminster Abbey in London, and after the Service Their Majesties will return to Buckingham Palace in a larger ceremonial procession, known as ‘The Coronation Procession’.
A coronation concert will take place at Windsor Castle on Sunday May 7th, with iconic locations across the UK lit up using projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations. The coronation concert will bring global music icons and contemporary stars together in celebration of the historic occasion.
The importance of the Coronation for the hospitality industry
The Coronation’s positive impact on the hospitality industry could prove to be significant. Clubs and pubs should see the long weekend as an opportunity to promote their venue and services.
Emma McClarkin OBE, chief executive officer of the British Beer and Pub Association, praised the move, saying: “This is a timely boost for the pub industry. In the midst of an acutely challenging period, I am sure our pubs will look to mark this joyous occasion by hosting special events and parties as part of national celebrations. The announcement of extended opening hours will help us all to mark this important event. It is sure to be a time for community and celebration, and the great British pub is always right at the heart of both, so I would encourage everyone to head down to their local and raise a toast to His Majesty during the Coronation weekend.”
At NDML we are celebrating the welcome news of extended opening hours, and are supporting clubs in the lead up to the Coronation. Hospitality and leisure businesses need to have their cover in place in order to stay fully protected and prepared for the long weekend. Extra stress and increased risks will need to be addressed.
According to the Government’s statistics, alcohol-related crime and disorder account for between 40% and 50% of all violent incidents. However, the Government believes that any risk of additional disorder in relation to the licensing hours extension is low.
The potential risks of extending licensing hours includes risk of accidents, injury, or third-party damages. Check with your broker to see if you are adequately insured. All Coronation events will likely require auxiliary insurance. Contact NDML to talk to a specialist broker.