PEOPLE celebrating the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton will be able to party for longer after the Government decided to relax licensing hours next weekend.

Licensed premises in Basingstoke and Deane can stay open between 11pm on Friday, April 29 and 1am on Saturday April 30, and between 11pm on Saturday, April 30 and 1am on Sunday, May 1.

The licensing change means pubs that usually close earlier can stay open to sell or supply alcohol for consumption on the premises.

The order does not apply to businesses that do not have the relevant authorisation on their existing licence, or to those selling alcohol which is consumed off the premises, such as off-licences and supermarkets.

Linda Cannon, the borough council’s licensing manager, said: “As the licensing authority, we have been informed of the order to relax the opening hours to mark the royal wedding.

“In the time we have, we are keen to make sure those licensed premises it applies to in the borough are aware of this so they can make a decision on whether they choose to apply the order.”

Rose Lyons, landlady of the Skewers pub in Windrush Close, Basingstoke, said she will be taking advantage of the relaxed hours. Normally the pub has to shut at 12.30am.

She added: “We are definitely going to stay open for the extra half-an-hour. We have got a garden party for the children during the day and a barbeque.

“People don’t really seem to be getting into the spirit of it all but I think a lot of people see it as a day off and an excuse to celebrate. Hopefully, it will be busy.”

For more information about the relaxed opening hours, go to the council’s website basingstoke.gov.uk.

* If you are holding a royal wedding street party and want The Gazette to feature it in our coverage, contact the newsdesk on 01256 337444 or e-mail newsdesk@ basingstokegazette.co.uk.