Extension of licensing hours during King's Coronation to provide ‘much-needed boost'

The extension of licensing hours for the King's Coronation in May will provide a "much-needed boost" for the sector, according to UKHospitality.

The government launched a public consultation last month on extending licensing hours from 11pm to 1am from Friday 5 May until Sunday 7 May in England and Wales.

This will mean that pubs, bars and clubs will be open for an extra two hours to mark Charles III being crowned on 6 May in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London.

An additional bank holiday has been confirmed for 8 May with public events and community celebrations planned across the country.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: "I'm pleased the Government is proposing to extend licensing hours and UKHospitality is fully behind the plans.

"Not only will it benefit customers, but it also means businesses will be able to trade for longer, increase footfall and generate additional sales."

She added: "At a time when the sector has been ravaged by the cost of doing business crisis, as well as recruitment challenges and strike disruption, this extension would provide a much-needed boost and aid hospitality's recovery."

It comes after pub group Fuller's estimated that industrial action since October cost the business around £4m, and said earnings for the year are anticipated to be lower than expected as a result.