Licensing Hours Extensions Bill

Lord Watson of Wyre Forest Excerpts

Friday 24th October 2025 Lords Chamber

Moved by

[Lord Watson of Wyre Forest]

That the Bill be now read a second time.

[Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Lab)]

My Lords, my noble friend Lord Murphy of Torfaen may have been hesitant to talk about elections this morning, but the Bill I propose may allow him to drown his sorrows a little easier. It is a genuine privilege to bring forward the Licensing Hours Extension Bill, a small but meaningful reform that will make a tangible difference to hospitality businesses, local communities and the millions of people who gather in pubs across England and Wales.

The Bill has travelled a steady, consensual path. It nearly reached this House before the last general election, under the stewardship of my colleague Emma Lewell. I am pleased to say that it received cross-party support when both she and my honourable friend Andrew Ranger, the Member for Wrexham, guided it through the Commons. It was supported by Ministers in both Governments, and that breadth of agreement reflects something rare and precious: a shared recognition of the cultural, social and economic importance of the great British pub, so ably represented by the good people of the British Beer & Pub Association, known to all Members of this House, which also supports this legislation.

The Bill makes a straightforward amendment to the Licensing Act 2003, the legislation that sets out the framework for four licensable activities: the sale of alcohol, and its supply, the provision of regulated entertainment, and the provision of late-night refreshment. Under Section 172 of that Act, the Secretary of State has the power to make an order extending licensing hours across England and Wales to mark occasions of

“exceptional international, national, or local significance”.

These national extensions allow all licensed premises to stay open for longer, should they wish to do so.

Over the past two decades, the power has been used sparingly, but effectively. It has enabled communities to celebrate together during the royal weddings in 2011 and 2018; Her late Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012; the Platinum Jubilee in 2022; and His Majesty the King’s Coronation in 2023. More recently, it was used to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day earlier this year, and during major sporting events such as Euro 2020—played in 2021—and Euro 2024, in which the England men’s football team participated. Most recently, licensing hours were extended when the Lionesses achieved their magnificent victory in securing a second European Championship title.

These nationally shared moments remind us that the role of the pub is not just commercial; pubs are the beating hearts of our communities. They are places where we come together in times of joy, pride and sometimes sorrow. They are where strangers become friends, where neighbours meet and where the shared story of our national life unfolds. Two-thirds of adults believe their local pub plays a vital role in tackling loneliness and social isolation. For many, especially in rural areas or small towns, it is the one place where the door is generally always open and where a conversation is never far away.

Economically too, this sector is a powerhouse: some 45,000 pubs and nearly 2,000 breweries support over a million jobs. They contribute £34 billion in gross value added to the economy and generate £18 billion in tax revenue. Almost half the workforce is aged between 16 and 24, making pubs and hospitality one of the most significant sources of opportunity for young people entering the labour market. Pubs sustain high streets in every part of the country, from great cities to small coastal towns. They sponsor local football teams, host community meetings and support charity events. They help our villages remain viable and our cities vibrant. And yet, despite their value, too many publicans face obstacles that make their work harder than it needs to be.

Under the current system, when a moment of national significant arises—whether a royal celebration, a major sporting final or a solemn occasion of mourning—pubs and hospitality venues often face unnecessary bureaucracy. They must either apply individually for a temporary event notice, which costs money and requires at least 10 days’ notice, or they must wait for Parliament to approve a blanket extension through the affirmative procedure. If Parliament is not sitting, that flexibility simply does not exist.

We saw the consequences of that in August 2023, when the Lionesses reached the World Cup final. It was a huge moment of national pride, watched by millions, yet thousands of venues were unable to open early and allow communities to come together. The Government could not extend licensing hours across England and Wales because there was not time to secure approval in both Houses. The Bill seeks to correct that. It replaces the affirmative procedure with the negative resolution procedure. In practice, that means that the Home Secretary may grant a temporary national extension to licensing hours more swiftly, without requiring a debate in both Houses, while preserving Parliament’s right to object. This is a pragmatic change that makes the system flexible, responsive and fit for purpose. It removes red tape, saves businesses money and ensures that we can respond in real time to moments that bring the nation together.

There is also a practical economic benefit. National license extensions save every affected business the cost and administrative burden of applying individually for a temporary event notice—£21 per application—while relieving local licensing authorities of the work involved in processing large numbers of requests in a short period of time.

At the same time, the Bill safeguards parliamentary scrutiny. If any Member of either House objects to a proposed extension, they retain the right to pray against it, meaning a debate can still take place. The only difference is that such a debate would not be automatic. This approach strikes the right balance between efficiency and accountability. As past experience shows, national extensions of this kind have been universally welcomed and commanded broad consensus. It is difficult to imagine objection to an extension marking a royal jubilee, a Coronation or a major sporting event.

Importantly, the Bill does not alter the criteria for extensions. National orders will still be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Secretary of State, normally the Home Secretary, and will be introduced only for events that are, in the words of the Licensing Act,

“of exceptional international, national, or local significance”.

The process for temporary event notices remains unchanged.

The Bill, then, is both a modest and meaningful change. It is a technical adjustment, but one that will bring real benefits to business and communities alike. It recognises that pubs are more than places of trade— they are spaces of togetherness and continuity in an age when many of our shared rituals have frayed. It acknowledges that our legislative processes must be nimble enough to keep pace with modern life. In a country where a football final, a royal commemoration or a moment of remembrance can unite millions, it should not be impossible for our communities to celebrate or to reflect together simply because of procedural delay.

The hospitality industry continues to recover from the shocks of the pandemic and sustained cost pressures. Many landlords and staff have had to show extraordinary resilience. Removing unnecessary administrative barriers, even small ones, sends an important signal of confidence and respect for their role in our national life.

The Bill embodies a simple principle: that government should trust communities and businesses to come together responsibly in moments that matter. It removes friction without removing oversight, and it tidies a process that has outlived its practicality while preserving the checks and balances that Parliament rightly expects. It also reminds us of something beyond procedure. When the national anthem plays in a crowded pub, when glasses are raised in memory of a monarch or in celebration of a local hero, when laughter and conversation spill out into the street after a match, we see the best of who we are—neighbours, friends and citizens, bound by shared experience.

The Bill cannot solve every challenge facing our pubs and brewers but it is a step in the right direction. It is proportionate, practical and unifying. It ensures that the Secretary of State can act swiftly when the nation wishes to come together, and that Parliament can still hold Ministers to account if it so chooses. For all these reasons, I commend the Licensing Hours Extensions Bill to the House and invite your Lordships to give it a Second Reading. I beg to move.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Lab)]

My Lords, this has been a good-natured, thoughtful and very convivial debate. I am grateful for all contributions made today.

The noble Baroness, Lady Monckton of Dallington Forest, and the noble Lord, Lord Bailey, made very thoughtful contributions about wider policies that could be adopted to support the hospitality sector. I am sure that the Front Bench heard that. Many of their contributions, I hope, will be considered in the other place when it comes to the Budget and policy ahead. I have one small piece of advice for the noble Baroness, Lady Monckton, on the opening of her pub, from my limited experience of running bars, clubs and festivals. Of the 69 million people who live in this country, the last person she should take advice from on how to change a light bulb is Jeremy Clarkson.

I should have known that the genesis of this Bill was in the mind of the noble Lord, Lord Hayward, because it is clear, proportionate and practical. I am grateful for his support today in a way that I was not grateful for the convincing arguments he made to the Electoral Commission for the removal of Greets Green and Lyng ward from my constituency in the boundary changes. That was a very important part of my life. None the less, I am grateful to him and to both Front Benches.

Bill read a second time and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.