Diamond Jubilee hours extension offered to pubs

Pubs in the city are to be able to apply for extended licensing hours to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

The decision, taken by the City of Edinburgh Licensing Committee, was taken in response to a bid by the Scottish Beer and Pub Association for every pub to be allowed to open for an extra hour.

The proposal would have seen standard pubs be able to open until 2am on Sunday, June 4 and Monday, June 5 – the official Jubilee public holiday. But licensing board member Councillor Tom Buchanan said: “I don’t think it would be appropriate to have a general extension.”

A police representative told the board: “I would suggest we will get a significant amount of applications in and it will create a significant amount of work for police officers.”

Members voted for each individual pub which wished to take advantage of additional drinking hours to be required to submit an application.