VE Day update as pubs allowed to open later to celebrate 80th anniversary (2025)

A British pub flying the Union Jack. (Image: Getty)

Pubs will be allowed to stay open until 1am on the 80th anniversary of VE Day so Brits can "raise a toast to veterans," according to Government plans for the celebration. The plans to commemorate the end of WW2 will mean that venues which normally close at 11pm will be allowed to stay open 2 hours later.

Sir Keir Starmer said that the change would allow people across the UK to "raise a glass" to those who fought for freedom during the Second World War. He added: "As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the whole country should come together to remember the incredible sacrifices made by the wartime generation and to celebrate the peace and freedom they secured for us all. Keeping our pubs open for longer will give people the opportunity to join in celebrations and raise a glass to all of the men and women who served their country, both overseas and at home."

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Winston Churchill addresses huge crowds in London on VE Day on May 8 1945. (Image: Getty)

Downing Street said it would give a “welcome boost” to the hospitality industry, hit hard by Covid and now confronting spiralling National Insurance contributions (NICs) ordered by Rachel Reeves.

VE Day falls on May 8. It is the day Allied Forces formally announced the surrender of Germany, bringing the Second World War to a close on the continent.

VJ Day, which marks victory over Japan and the end of the war in total, is on Aug 15.

Incredibly, one council in the UK was considering scrapping its VE Day celebrations this year, before an abrupt U-turn.

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Children wave Union flag's on VE Day (Image: Getty)

There had been some speculation that No 10 could grant an extra bank holiday to mark both days, however it was quashed earlier this year.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said at the time: “Obviously, the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ will be moments of huge significance for our country, where we will come together to honour the memory of those who served, the legacy left behind and what we owe them.

“We are committed to commemorating these nationally important occasions appropriately, which is why we have announced more than £10 million for events to mark them. We’ll set out more detail on that shortly.

“These plans do not include an additional bank holiday, but we will look to use the existing early May Bank Holiday for commemorative events.”