VE Day 80th Anniversary: Licensing Hours Extension Debate

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Department: Home Office

VE Day 80th Anniversary: Licensing Hours Extension

Diana Johnson Excerpts
Wednesday 23rd April 2025

(1 day, 18 hours ago)

Written Statements
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Diana Johnson Portrait The Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention (Dame Diana Johnson)
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The Government will move forward with the proposal to issue a licensing hours order under section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003, following growing and overwhelming support from the public to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. To confirm, this order will extend licensing hours in England and Wales for the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

The order will apply to premises already licensed for the sale of alcohol and late-night refreshments for consumption on the premises until 11 pm. The order will extend the licensing hours for these premises from 11 pm on 8 May to 1 am on 9 May. The territorial extent of the order will be England and Wales.

The Government view VE Day as an event of exceptional national significance, and an extension to licensing hours will enable communities to come together at their local licensed premises to celebrate 80 years of peace since the end of world war two, which millions paid the ultimate sacrifice to achieve. This will also provide support to the hospitality sector by enabling businesses to extend their trading hours should they wish to do so.

The order will be laid in Parliament in due course and an economic note will be published alongside it on legislation.gov.uk.

[HCWS593]