Northern Ireland's Easter pub opening hours going late under new laws

Previously, licensed premises had limited hours for the sale of alcohol from Thursday to Sunday over the Easter weekend

Pubs and clubs in Northern Ireland will be able to stay open for longer this Easter weekend for the first time under new licensing laws.

Stormont passed legislation extending opening hours last June.

Previous restrictions allowed venues to serve alcohol between 17:00 and 23:00 on Good Friday; until midnight on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday; and 22:00 on Easter Sunday.

They can now operate as normal during Easter.

The legislation, which came into effect in October 2021, allows those with a late licence to sell alcohol until 01:00 or, for those allowed to stay open additional permitted hours, until 02:00.

Nine years in the making, it was the first major change to Northern Ireland's licensing laws since 1996 and has been described as the biggest change to the laws in a generation.

• How new alcohol laws will affect pubs and punters

• Extended pub hours approved by Stormont

The Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill brought many of Northern Ireland's rules around alcohol sales into line with the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Hospitality Ulster says the new rules are a boost for premises operating over Easter

Colin Neill, from Hospitality Ulster, the body which represents the industry in Northern Ireland, said bars and restaurants had been looking forward to this Easter "for years".

He said the legislation had been a "shot in the arm for the entire hospitality industry as it emerges from a protracted period of pandemic closure".

"Previous research showed the sector lost millions of pounds during the Easter period under the previous legislative regime," he added.

'Restrictive laws of the past'

He said the new laws would mean customers and tourists can "enjoy a glass of wine with lunch on Good Friday, or a late night out over the long weekend across Northern Ireland".

"In years gone by, business owners have been at their wits end having to stay closed and shut early, losing millions in trade due to the restrictive laws of the past," he said.

"Following years of campaigning, it is a real boost for the sector to be able to bring families and friends together over a meal and a pint during the Easter holiday period."

Barry McDaid, who manages Pyke and Pommes restaurant in Londonderry, welcomed the changes to what he said were "archaic laws".

"I think it is long, long overdue and it's good to see some change at last," Mr McDaid told BBC Radio Foyle.

"Working in bars years ago there were always queues outside the door from one o'clock when we didn't even open until three.

"People wanted to come in to sit down for a beer because it was the Easter weekend and most people are off on their holidays."

Mr McDaid said he would often find himself having to explain to tourists in Derry why they were unable to have a drink until a certain time during the Easter holidays.

"They couldn't really understand when you tried to explain to them what the old law was and that they couldn't have a drink before this time.

"Whereas everywhere else in Europe you could have a drink practically 24/7."

'Question of choice'

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster, Janice Gault from the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation said the new legislation introduces the question of choice for consumers.

She added that for the hotel industry, the extended hours now "opens up the opportunity to stage events over the Easter period".

Gerard Keenan, who owns Dan's Bar in Belfast, said: "These changes may not seem that big to many people but to us it's a massive thing".

He added: "I hope this Easter is a super one and we can put all the craziness of the last two years behind us".

Tony O'Neill, the owner of Coppi Restaurant, also in Belfast, told BBC Radio Ulster that in the past, tourists had often been confused about Easter licensing laws.

"They found it very difficult when we try to explain to them why they can't have a drink," he said.

Mr O'Neill added that the hospitality industry has been in "despair" the past two years but he now feels more positive.

"There is a lot of confidence out there and people are enjoying being back out so fingers crossed Northern Ireland will be buzzing through the whole summer," he said.