Pubs will be allowed to stay open for an extra two hours on VE Day next month to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
The government said pub licensing hours will be relaxed on 8 May to raise a glass and celebrate those who served in the war.
Pubs and bars across the UK will be able to keep serving until 1am after the two hour extension, which will mark the end of four days of celebrations.
Parties are being planned for the day, 80 years after the Allies’ formal acceptance of Germany’s unconditional surrender, marking the end of all German military operations in Europe on 8 May 1945.
Sir 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.”
Pub licensing hours can be relaxed by the home secretary to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”, with extensions previously approved for major royal celebrations and significant sporting events, such as the Euro 2024 final.
VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, commemorations will begin on the 5 May bank holiday Monday, when there will be a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace and an RAF flypast over London.
On 8 May, when the pub hour extension will come in, there are parties planned across the UK, culminating in 10,000 members of the public attending a televised celebration on London’s Horse Guards Parade, where performances by stars of the stage and screen will take place.
There will also be a VE Day tea party on 8 May at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, bringing together the largest gathering of Second World War veterans.
Read more: What celebrations are planned for VE Day?
Oxford Street in central London has been decorated with Union flags. Pic: PA
The hospitality industry has welcomed the hours’ extension, with Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, saying it will give pubs and bars “a much-needed boost while paying tribute to our shared history”.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, said many people will be gathering in their local pubs to mark the special occasion and she is “pleased” the government is extending licensing hours.
