LICENSEES are raising their glasses to plans to allow pubs to open until midnight at weekends.

Government proposals will mean an extra hour's drinking on Friday and Saturday nights .

And for nightclubs it will extend opening until 3am on those nights.

"It is very welcome news," said North West Federation of Licenced Victuallers spokeman Pat Kerry, of Burnley.

"It seems ridiculous that under the present system parents have to go home at 11pm on Friday and Saturdays, while their kids go on to nightclubs until to 2am!"

Mr Kerry, who is licensee of the Hare and Hounds, Briercliffe, and the licensed victuallers' parliamentary representative, added: "This is a move in the right direction - it will allow people to be more relaxed about going out. "I am sure this will be welcomed by both the trade and the public.

At the Sidewalk 53 pub, Burnley, manager Philip Caine said it was "an absolutely fabulous" move which would be welcomed at all town centre pubs.

"At the moment we have to put a dampener on people having a good time when enjoyment is at its height," he said.

"We have to close our doors, leaving customers with no option if they want a drink after 11pm but to pay up to £15 to get into a nightclub.

"Our customers all say they are looking forward to the change, which makes a lot of sense in this day and age."

The Government proposals will now go out to public consultation and the new opening times are expected to come into force before the end of the year.

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