In England the pubs, just like the tube, close early. Too early if you ask any American, especially New Yorkers. The pubs close so early in fact that the doors shut and the taps go dry an hour before the clock strikes midnight. That doesn’t mean drinking stops happening the second pints stop being served, but it certainly doesn’t continue happening in the iconic pubs the country has become known for. But that’s all going to change for one weekend in June. Why, because it’s the Queen’s 90th Birthday, and she’d prefer for people to celebrate a little bit harder and longer than usual, thank you very much!
This year on June 10th and 11th, the weekend of the Queen’s official birthday – her actual birthday is April 21, don’t ask why there is a separate official birthday two months later, Brits are weird – all pubs in England will be allowed to stay open two hours longer than normal. That means that instead of closing at the usual time of 11PM, beer and good cheer will flow for two hours longer, until 1AM, all in celebration of the Queen.
This isn’t the first time there has been a royal decree for longer imbibing. The wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge saw pubs open later, as did the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Because what could be a better way to celebrate the Royal Family than by knocking down a few more pints when you should have headed home hours ago instead.
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