ALL pubs will be allowed to stay open until 1am for two nights of celebrations for the royal wedding under Government plans, the Home Office said today.
Crime Prevention Minister James Brokenshire said the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton was "an occasion for national celebration" and "licensing hours should be relaxed in all licensed premises in England and Wales".
The "modest relaxation" of the licensing hours will allow alcohol to be sold in pubs and clubs, and will also permit live and recorded music, dancing, plays and films until 1am on April 29 and 30, he said.
Mr Brokenshire told MPs: ``These are the days when people are most likely to want to celebrate.''
The plans, which are subject to a Home Office consultation, use powers that enable the Home Secretary to relax opening hours for licensed premises "to mark occasions of ’exceptional international, national or local significance"’, he said.
"However, we are mindful that late-night drinking can lead to crime and disorder and public nuisance.
"On this basis, we are proposing a modest relaxation of licensing hours until 1am and intend to restrict the order to the sale of alcohol in pubs, clubs and anywhere else where alcohol is consumed on the premises and to regulated entertainment such as live and recorded music, dancing, plays and films.
"We are also limiting the order to Friday 29th - the day of the wedding - and Saturday 30th as these are the days when people are most likely to want to celebrate."
The move was welcomed by the British Beer and Pub Association.
Brigid Simmons, its chief executive, said: "This is great news, and it is really good to see the Government recognising that this is a brilliant opportunity for us all to get together in the pub, to celebrate a great national event.
"With state-of-the art TV, great food and hospitality, pubs will be right at the heart of the royal wedding celebrations, and are the perfect place to enjoy the day.
"Looking forward to 2012, let’s hope we can do the same for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee."
The royal couple will have the eyes of the world on them when they tie the knot at Westminster Abbey on Friday April 29, which has been designated an official public holiday.
Britain will enjoy a bank holiday bonanza as millions get an extra day off to celebrate.
With Easter falling the weekend before, and May Day holiday on the following Monday, it means many people will enjoy two four-day weekends in a row.
On the day of the wedding, Miss Middleton will travel by car to the Abbey along a route including The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and Parliament Square.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will marry William and Miss Middleton, and the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, will give the address.
The newlyweds will then return to Buckingham Palace in a carriage procession along a route including Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade and The Mall, St James’s Palace said.
Once inside the Palace, the Queen will hold a reception for the couple and guests drawn from the congregation representing the couple’s official and private lives.
The Prince of Wales will give a private dinner, followed by dancing, at Buckingham Palace in the evening, for the couple and their close friends and family.
The pair announced their engagement in November, nine years after meeting as students at St Andrews University.
