Revellers hoping to enjoy a late-night knees-up to celebrate the royal wedding may have to cross local authority boundaries to toast the happy couple.
Although a blanket extension to pub opening hours in England and Wales has been agreed, Scottish landlords are being forced to face what has been described as a frustrating “postcode lottery.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton will marry at Westminster Abbey on April 29. With celebrations planned throughout the UK, the Home Office last month revealed that hostelries south of the border would be invited to extend their opening hours to 1am across two nights without permission from local licensing authorities.
The unusual move came after Home Office minister James Brokenshire said it was “an occasion for national celebration.”
He explained that a “modest relaxation” of the licensing hours would allow alcohol to be sold in pubs and clubs and also permit live and recorded music, dancing, plays and films to continue until 1am on April 29 and 30.
However, there is no such blanket approval in Scotland. It has left Scottish pubs including those in St Andrews where William and Kate attended university to apply for extended hours on an individual basis.
The lack of uniformity has frustrated some, including Patrick Browne, the Scottish Beer and Pub Association’s chief executive, who said it was evidence of a “glitch” in Scotland’s Licensing Act.
“It is very clear there is no kind of national perspective on this sort of event,” he said. “It is just another example of the act failing to cover something fairly straightforward.”
Licensing laws for England and Wales are the responsibility of Westminster, but are devolved to the administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Iain Matheson, clerk to Fife’s licensing board, said applications for extended hours would be considered on a case-by-case basis. He is well aware the wedding is likely to cause intense interest in St Andrews.
“The licensing board did consider this issue,” he said. “Many premises in Fife are already able to open to 1am. If any other premises want to open to that time it was considered appropriate that they should apply rather than a blanket consent being issued.
“Issuing a blanket consent for longer opening may not be consistent with the duty to protect and improve public health.
“Representations to this effect have been made to the licensing board in the past,” Mr Matheson continued.
“The board had regard to these earlier representations when considering whether to allow a blanket consent in this instance.”Regional variationsThere will also be a case-by-case approach in Perth and Kinross. However, other authorities, including Dundee, are understood to be willing to grant the extra hour.
Licensees in Fife were divided over plans for the wedding day.
While many said special events are planned, others insisted there is little to celebrate.
“A lot of people think the expense of the wedding isn’t justified, and they won’t be celebrating,” one commented.
The royal wedding will be marked with a public holiday across the UK.
William and Kate will be married by the Archbishop of Canterbury before returning to Buckingham Palace in a glass carriage along Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade and The Mall.