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Looking for a “Santa’s Little Helper” guide to additional hours for licensed premises across Scotland? Then look no further!
With the festive season rapidly on the horizon, now is the time to apply for any licensing festive extensions. Every licensing board in Scotland takes a different approach to how they deal with additional trading hours for venues like bars, clubs and so on during the festive season. Some boards give these extra hours automatically, some require applications to be submitted; and the applicable dates vary wildly. It can be hard to keep up – but for everyone on the Nice List, Christmas has come a little early in the form of our online guide to all the policies, neatly wrapped up in a festive bow.
Please read our board-by-board guide below, and if you would like any further advice, contact Stephen McGowan or Caroline Loudon.
1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30, 31 December and 1 January 2024
1 hour beyond the current terminal hour on these dates
No
N/A
All on consumption premises except casinos, whose regular hours adhere to the maximum of 15 hours continuous trading in any 24 hour period.
Friday and Saturday preceding 25 December, 24 to 26 December inclusive, Friday and Saturday preceding 31 December, 1 January and Hogmanay (31 Dec)
1:30am each date except on 31 Dec when 3am applies
No
N/A
Seasonal variations must be in the operating plan. Premises opening after 1am may be subject to mandatory conditions.
24, 25, 26, 31 Dec & 1 & 2 Jan
Other premises - 1:30am Nightclubs - Sun - Thurs - 3:00am, Fri & Sat - 4:00am
No
N/A
Seasonal variations must be in the operating plan. Premises opening after 1am may be subject to mandatory conditions, Board may attach additional conditions.
24, 25, 26, 31 Dec and 1 Jan
If festive days fall on Sun to Thurs premises can trade for the hours provided to them in their operating plan. If festive days fall on Fri or Sat premises allowed one additional hour at the end of trading but not allowed to trade beyond 2:00am. THE FESTIVE DATES THIS YEAR DO NOT FALL ON A FRI OR SAT - OPERATING PLAN HOURS APPLY.
No
N/A
Extended hours applications must be lodged if seasonal variations is not in the operating plan. Applications should be sent to the board by the last Friday in November otherwise applications may not be processed. THE FESTIVE DATES THIS YEAR DO NOT FALL ON A FRI OR SAT - OPERATING PLAN HOURS APPLY.
8 Dec - 2 Jan
For premises with terminal core hour of 12:00am, can trade to 1:00am, premises with terminal core hour of 1:00am can trade to 2:00am and premises with terminal core hour of 2:00am can trade to 3:00am. On 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st Dec & 1st Jan premises can trade until 3:00am
Yes
35 days before the first date sought
Any local late night conditions will still apply. On 31 Dec into 1 Jan children will be permitted under parental supervision until 1am otherwise normal children's conditions apply on other nights.
18 Dec - 3 Jan
2 hours beyond to the usual terminal hour
Possibly
28 working days before event
Extended hours applications must be lodged if festive seasonal variations is not in the operating plan
15-17 Dec inclusive & 22 Dec - 2 Jan inclusive
1 additional hour beyond the terminal hour in operating plan but not beyond 2:00am unless premises already hold entitlement to trade beyond 2:00am, as Christmas Eve & New Years Eve is on a Sunday premises are entitled to trade until 2:00am.
No
N/A
General extension will apply for these hours.
No specified festive policy
Extended hours up to 2am may be considered for culture/religious festivals (including Christmas and New Year) no specific date(s) given.
Yes
14 days before event.
None.
No specified festive policy
One evening only on either - 24th, 25th or 26th and one evening only at New Year either 31 December or 1 January to 1am max.
Yes
14 days before event.
None.
26, 31 Dec & 1 Jan.
One extra hours trading following closing time.
Possibly
14 days before event (if necessary).
Extended hours applications must be lodged if seasonal variations is not in operating plan.
24, 25, 26, 31 Dec & 1 Jan
1am max
Possibly
14 days before event (if necessary).
No entertainment provision necessary. Extended hours applications must be lodged if seasonal variations is not in operating plan.
1 Dec - 2 Jan
Pubs - no extension will be given if the terminal hour is later than 12:00am. For example, if premises has a 1:00am or 2:00am licence on Fri or Sat they will only be able to apply one extra hour from Sun to Thurs. Nightclubs - maximum of one hour and the latest which will be granted is 3:30am
Yes
17 November 2023
None.
11 Dec to 6 Jan
Other premises - 2 am max. Nightclubs - 3am max (ON MAX OF 4 OCCASIONS).
Possibly
All applications require to be lodged at least 14 days before the events stipulated in the application (if necessary).
Extended hours applications must be lodged if seasonal variations is not in operating plan. For nightclub premises curfew will be extended to 2.15am on the 4 occasions.
24 & 31 Dec
Other premises - 2 am on Christmas and New Year mornings only. Nightclubs - 3am - on Christmas and New Year mornings only
No
N/A
Christmas and New Year mornings only.
24,25,26, 31 Dec and 1 Jan
2am
No
TBC for 2023 for extended hours outwith the festive dates.
Any application outwith the festive dates for extended hours will be considered on a case by case basis.
1&2 Dec, 4-9 Dec, 11-16 Dec, 18-23 Dec Plus 24, 25, 31 Dec & 1 Jan
All premises including registered clubs - One additional hour beyond terminal hour in operating plan EXCEPT on 24, 25, 31 Dec & 1 Jan when 2am applies.
Possibly
Notification must be given to LSO of dates to be utilised under the general extension via telephone or email otherwise general extension will not apply.
General extension applies on the stated dates only when notification given to the LSO via telephone (0141 577 3751) or email:dominic.mcmahon@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk. Extended hours outwith the dates stated may be applied for and considered on own merits
15 & 16 Dec, 22-26 Dec, 29 Dec - 1 Jan
Other premises - 2 am. Nightclubs - 4:00am .
No
5 weeks before the first date sought for applications submitted for dates outwith the stated festive dates.
Mandatory late night conditions apply after 1am trading. Festive hours apply irrespective of whether the premises has seasonal variations within the operating plan referring to festive trading. Any application outwith the festive dates for extended hours will be considered on a case by case basis. Board may consider attaching conditions for hours outwith standard licensed hours.
2 Dec to 2 Jan
1 am maximum (all premises)
Possibly
28 days before the first date sought (if necessary)
Extended hours applications must be lodged if seasonal variations is not in operating plan. No automatic right to hours beyond 1am. Any hours sought outwith those permitted and not covered by seasonal variations must apply for extended hours which will be considered on own merits.
25 Nov to 2 Jan
City Centre - all premises except members clubs: 1 hour beyond terminal hour
Outwith City Centre - all premises except members clubs: 1 hour beyond terminal hour on Fridays & Saturdays during festive period plus Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve & New Years Day.
Members Clubs - Christmas Eve and New Years Eve to 3am. General Extension does not apply to casinos with 6am terminal hour.
Possibly
4 weeks before any date sought (if necessary)
Extended hours applications must be lodged if seasonal variations is not in operating plan and will be considered on merits. General Extension does not apply to casinos with 6am terminal hour. Where premises are open after midnight premises expected to comply with LB policy on use of toughened glass and any other conditions attached to the operation of the licensed premises.
8 Dec - 1 Jan
Premises Licence (except nightclubs) - Sun - Wed - 1:00am, Thurs - Sat - 2:00am, Premises Licence (Nightclubs) - Sun - Wed - 2:00am, Thurs - Sat - 3:30am (bar to close at 3:00am)
NOTE ON 24, 25, 26, 31 Dec & 1 Jan premises may operate same terminal hour as Thurs-Sat
No
Board and Police Scotland must be notified as soon as possible of nights to be utilised. email: RenfrewshireInverclydeLicensing@scotland.pnn.police.uk
Event must relate to festive season (Christmas parties etc); other events (birthdays, retirements etc) must be applied for normally. The Curfew will be relaxed on evening of 31 Dec to 1am. Late night opening conditions will apply after 1am.
24, 25, 26, 31 Dec & 1 Jan
One extra hour, up to a maximum of 2:00am.
No
N/A
Seasonal variation for festive period must be included in the operating plan
24 Dec - 2 Jan
24 -30 December - 1:30am, 31 December - 2 January - 3:00am
Possibly
4 weeks before the first date sought (if necessary).
Where the hours stated in the operating plan (seasonal or otherwise) do not allow for hours as late as the general extension then the general extension hours will apply without the need for an extended hours application. Applications for dates and times outwith the terms of the general extension can be lodged and considered on merits. Late night opening conditions will apply after 1am trading.
1 Dec - 2 Jan - Max 11 extensions may be applied for
Public Houses/Restaurants - Sun - Wed - 1:00am, Thurs - Sat - 2:00am, Nightclubs - Sun - Wed - 2:00am, Thurs - Sat - 3:00am, Members clubs - Mon - Sun - 2:00am ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND HOGMANAY SATURDAY HOURS WILL APPLY
Yes
28 days before the first date sought
Standard late night opening conditions apply when premises open after 1am. Curfew of 12.30am applies to all premises.
NOTE PREMISES CAN ONLY APPLY FOR EXTENDED HOURS AT THE END OF LICENSED HOURS - IF NO LICENSED HOURS PER THE OPERATING PLAN ON ANY PARTICULAR DAY A VARIATION MUST BE SOUGHT.
8 Dec to 2 Jan
Late night opening Premises (normally where terminal hour later than 1am (Nightclubs) - 1 extra hour
All other on sale premises - 1.00am
ON 24, 25, 31 Dec & 1 Jan: Late night opening Premises (normally where terminal hour later than 1am (Nightclubs) - 1 extra hour
All other on sale premises - 2.00am
No
N/A
None.
8 Dec to 2 Jan
Pubs & Members Clubs offering no significant entertainment (social demand hours): Mon - Sun to 1am
Premises offering significant entertainment in function rooms (function hours) : Mon-Sun to 1:30am
Nightclubs: Sun - Wed - to 2:30am, Thurs - Sat to 3:00am
NOTE - ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND HOGMANAY FRI/SAT NIGHT HOURS APPLY.
No
N/A
Late night opening conditions apply after 1am. Seasonal variations for festive period must be in operating plan. No festive hours for restaurant premises. Functions must not be for general public entry, entry should be limited and controlled. For Festive function hours individual pre-booked christmas parties may take place from 1 Dec to 2 Jan.
8 & 9 Dec plus 15 Dec - 2 Jan
All premises (except whose primary purpose is offering entertainment in the form of dancing) - Sun-Thurs to 1am; Fri & Sat to 2am; Christmas Eve & Hogmanay to 3am.
All premises whose primary purpose is offering entertainment in the form of dancing - Sun - Thurs to 3am; Fri & Sat to 4am (where premises are members of Paisley Town Centre Radio Link); Christmas Eve & Hogmanay to 4am
Possibly
28 days before date sought for extended hours applications. Notice to Board and Police no later than 1 Dec 2023.
Extended hours applications must be lodged if seasonal variations referring to festive period is not in operating plan and will be considered on merits. Where automatic entitlement applies the Board and Police must be advised which dates will be applied - contact:
Police Scotland - RenfrewshireInverclydeLicensing@scotland.police.uk
Renfrewshire Licensing Board - enforcement.licensing@renfrewshire.gov.uk
24,25,26 & 31 Dec, & 1 Jan
1am
Possibly
28 days before date sought (if necessary)
Extended hours applications must be lodged if seasonal variations for festive seasonal hours is not in operating plan
1 Dec - 2 Jan
Additional one hour
No
N/A
Mandatory late night opening conditions or local conditions will apply if trading after 1am
1 Dec - 2 Jan
Saturdays - 1:00am. 31st December - 4:00am
No
N/A
General extension applies.
1 Dec - 2 Jan
No
N/A
General extension applies.
1 Dec - 2 Jan
No
N/A
General extension applies.
1 Dec - 2 Jan
No
N/A
General extension applies
All Premises - Sunday to Thursday to 1am; Friday & Saturday to 2am; 24 & 31 Dec to 3am
Late Night opening Premises - Sunday to Thursday to 3am; Friday & Saturday to 4am; 24 & 31 Dec to 4am
No
N/A
General extension applies - licence holders must notifiy the Board of what dates and times they intend to open so that Police Scotland can be advised. Contact Board at Liquorlicensing@stirling.gov.uk
11 Dec to 3 Jan
Public Houses, Hotel Bars & Members Clubs - one hour more than the normal licensed hours with the exception of Hogmanay, 3:00am on Hogmanay on condition that last entry is 11:00pm and event is pre-ticketed.
Nightclubs - 4:00am for festive period.
Possibly
No later than 30 November for notification to Board and Police where automatic entitlement applies.
Extended hours applications must be lodged if seasonal variations is not in operating plan and will be considered on merits. Board may impose additional conditions. Premises who have seasonal variations for festive period in operating plan must still give notice of dates premises intend to open to the Licensing Board and Police Scotland prior to 30 November 2023. licensing@west-dunbarton.gov.uk & argylldunbartonshirelicensing@scotland.police.uk
NOTE IF NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT MET THEN EXTENDED HOURS APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED.
Fridays & Saturdays plus 24,25,26,31 Dec & 1 Jan between the dates of 1 Dec to 2 Jan
Other Premises - 2am, Nightclubs - 4:00am
Possibly
35 days before the first date sought for extended hours applications (if necessary)
Extended hours applications must be lodged if seasonal variations is not in operating plan and will be considered on merits.
This publication is intended for general guidance and represents our understanding of the relevant law and practice as at November 2023. Specific advice should be sought for specific cases. For more information see our terms & conditions.
Date published
08 November 2023
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