‘Victory Inn Europe’: Pub opening hours to be extended to honour VE Day

Labour have announced that pubs will stay open later to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

The change will allow all pubs to remain open until 1am. While many pubs in the country already hold a 1am licence, it will help those currently having to close their doors at 11pm.

Pub licensing hours can be altered to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”, having previously been done to celebrate events like the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and for the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.

Other events include important sporting events like the 2024 Euros Final. The Liberal Democrats had also called for a bank holiday to be established if England had won.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the whole country should come together to remember the incredible sacrifices made by the wartime generation and to celebrate the peace and freedom they secured for us all. 
 
“Keeping our pubs open for longer will give people the opportunity to join in celebrations and raise a glass to all of the men and women who served their country, both overseas and at home.”

The move comes only a week after the government rejected calls by the Liberal Democrats to implement a new bank holiday to commemorate VE (Victory in Europe) and VJ (Victory in Japan) day.

In response to the Liberal Democrats, a Labour spokesperson said: “Obviously, the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ day will be moments of huge significance for our country, where we will come together to honour the memory of those who served, the legacy left behind and what we owe them.

“We are committed to commemorating these nationally important occasions appropriately, which is why we have announced more than £10 million for events to mark them.” The spokesperson insisted that their plans “do not include an additional bank holiday”.

Despite this, the extended opening hours are expected to be a welcome boost to the hospitality industry.

Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association said: “This is a momentous occasion and, as the nation’s second home, the pub is the perfect place for communities to gather and raise a glass to all of those who made huge sacrifices for our freedom. 
 
“Extending licensing hours will mean people can come together for longer, nurture community spirit, and allow pubs to host even more commemorative events that honour our veterans and heroes and celebrate peace.” 

The government has already announced plans to “cut red tape” in licensing decisions to permit late-night industries to open later in more circumstances. The changes are being trialed in London where mayor Sadiq Khan will be able to reassess failed licence applications and progress them where appropriate. If successful this will be rolled out to other metro-mayors in England.

A government spokesperson outlined the plans for the day, saying: “The VE Day commemorations will start on Bank Holiday Monday, with the Cenotaph dressed in Union flags, a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace, and an RAF flypast over London.

“On Thursday 8th May, a day of celebrations across the country will culminate in a party at London’s Horse Guards Parade, televised live on BBC One, with more than 10,000 members of the public attending the event to see performances by stars from the stage and screen. “