New law could make it easier for pubs to stay open for longer

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Proposals to make it easier for venues to extend their opening hours during major national or local events have passed through the Commons, moving one step closer to becoming law.

The current system was described as a "bureaucratic nightmare", requiring Parliament's approval for any government orders to relax licensing hours on specific dates and times.

Labour MP Emma Lewell-Buck has proposed the Licensing Hours Extensions Bill in an attempt to streamline the "costly, overly bureaucratic, time-consuming and restrictive" parliamentary process.

This would allow for an order to be approved even when Parliament is not in session. The South Shields MP highlighted a "missed opportunity" when England reached the final of the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia due to the existing licensing rules, reports Wales Online. READ MORE: Finally, the full truth of Greater Manchester teacher Rebecca Joynes' sex crimes can be told She pointed out that the final started at 11am on a Sunday, resulting in pubs missing out on potential extra revenue as they were unable to apply for extended opening hours in time.