The Licensing Act 2003 (Victory in Europe Day Licensing Hours) Order 2025

Made: 7th May 2025

Coming into force: 8th May 2025

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 172(1) and (3)(c) and 197(2)(b) of the Licensing Act 2003[^f00001].

The Secretary of State considers that the celebration period in relation to which this Order is made marks an occasion of exceptional national significance.

The Secretary of State has consulted such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in accordance with section 172(4) of the Licensing Act 2003.

In accordance with section 197(4)[^f00002] of the Licensing Act 2003, a draft of this Order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Citation, commencement, interpretation and extent

1

• (1) This Order may be cited as the Licensing Act 2003 (Victory in Europe Day Licensing Hours) Order 2025 and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

• (2) In this Order—

• “celebration period” means the period beginning with 8th May 2025 and ending with 9th May 2025; and

• “specified times” means the period beginning at 11 p.m. on 8th May 2025 and ending at 1 a.m. on 9th May 2025.

• (3) This Order extends to England and Wales.

Licensing Hours

2

• (1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), premises licences[^f00003] and club premises certificates[^f00004] to which paragraph (2) applies have effect (to the extent that it is not already the case) during the celebration period as if the specified times were included in the opening hours[^f00005].

• (2) This paragraph applies to premises licences and club premises certificates by virtue of which the opening hours immediately precede or continue into the specified times.

• (3) The opening hours are not to be treated by virtue of paragraph (1) as including the specified times insofar as they relate to the use of premises for—

• (a) the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption off the premises,

• (b) the supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club for consumption off the premises, or

• (c) the provision of regulated entertainment[^f00006].

• (4) In relation to the use of premises for the provision of late night refreshment[^f00007], the opening hours are only to be treated by virtue of paragraph (1) as including the specified times if the premises may also be used at those times for—

• (a) the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption on the premises, or

• (b) the supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club for consumption on the premises.

Signed

Diana Johnson — Minister of State — Home Office — 7th May 2025

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Explanatory Note

This Order is made under section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003 (c. 17) and marks the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day on 8th May 2025.

This Order provides for a period during which premises licences and club premises certificates have effect (to the extent that this is not already the case) as if specified times were included in the opening hours under the licence or certificate.

Article 1 of the Order prescribes the specified times as the period of 2 hours beginning at 11pm on 8th May 2025 and ending at 1am on 9th May 2025.

Article 2 (2) provides that this Order only applies to licences and certificates which authorise licensable activities to be carried on up to, or proceed into, the specified times.

Article 2 (3) disapplies this Order to the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption off the premises, the supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club for consumption off the premises, and the provision of regulated entertainment.

Article 2 (4) permits premises to be used for the provision of late night refreshment at the specified times only if at those times the premises may also be used for the sale or supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen. An economic note is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk and is also available from the Alcohol Policy Team of the Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, SW1P 4DF.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2003 c. 17.

[^f00002]: Amendments have been made to section 197 of the Licensing Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”) which are not relevant to this Order. There are prospective amendments to section 197 of the 2003 Act which are also not relevant to this Order.

[^f00003]: See section 11 of the 2003 Act for the definition of “premises licence”.

[^f00004]: See section 60 of the 2003 Act for the definition of “club premises certificate”.

[^f00005]: See section 172(5) of the 2003 Act for the definition of “opening hours”.

[^f00006]: See schedule 1 to the 2003 Act for the definition of “provision of regulated entertainment”.

[^f00007]: See paragraph 1(1) and (2) of Schedule 2 to the 2003 Act for the definition of “provision of late night refreshment”.