We love it!

[NorthView]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6220875.stm

[Molina]

[hard2tel]

[emmasdad]

[hard2tel]

[Molina]

[Cactus Jack]

[AlexMR]

[Felonius_Monk]

In principal the law makes it easier for pubs to open late - in Britain the usual liquor licence only allowed places to open until 11pm (nightclubs etc can obtain a licence to open till 2 or 3am or in some cases later but they cost a lot more). Now, pubs are generally allowed to open late if they wish without the complicated paperwork and having to apply for more expensive licences, except in certain situations (i.e. if local residents complain about noise or whatever I think places can be restricted). The idea was to prevent the trouble that used to occur at 11pm-11:30 in many english cities when you get a bunch of people who're drunk (because they feel pressure to drink quicker, knowing time is limited) being chucked out onto the streets at the same time, which would cause unrest and fights and stuff sometimes.

In practice, however, most pubs still close at 11pm or so, except sometimes at weekends (presumably publicans, who mostly own and live on the premises, don't want to be in the bar working all hours of the night when they probably won't make THAT much more money) so little has changed that I can see. There's just a couple more choices if you want to stay out late at the weekends, which is good.

[Calaziar]