Bars, pubs and clubs to open late for royal wedding

Published: 10 January, 2011

Bars, pubs and clubs will be allowed to stay open to 1am for two nights in a row to celebrate the royal wedding.

According to the Sunday Mirror, ministers are expected to announce the move within days in order to help venues plan special events around Prince William and Kate Middleton's 29 April wedding.

The newspaper reported that the move will be led by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles in an effort to boost tourism and trade since the government decided to make the weekend a bank holiday.

Since the wedding was announced, the drinks trade have been clamouring to get in on the act. Hours after the announcement the British Beer & Pub Association released a statement urging the couple to choose beer over Champagne. "The word bridal is a corruption of 'bride-ale' ? a special beer brewed for weddings," it claimed.

Others in the trade are hopeful that English sparkling wine will be chosen over traditional Champagne, though it is thought that suppliers will be asked to provide wines in confidence. Bollinger supplied Prince Charles and Diana's wedding in 1981.

Printer friendly version