Easter licensing hours 2019

16 April 2019

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When alcohol may be sold by businesses in Northern Ireland over the Easter period 

Over Easter, the times during which alcohol may be sold on licensed premises in Northern Ireland is slightly different to the rest of the year.

Licensed premises include businesses such as bars, restaurants and hotels who hold a licence to sell alcohol or ‘liquor licence’. Some licensed premises have a ‘late licence’ that normally allows them to sell alcohol as late as 01:00, instead of the usual limit of 23:00.

Easter licensing hours
The permitted hours that licensed premises can sell alcohol during the Easter period are:

• Holy Thursday, 18 April 2019 – Licensed premises may sell alcohol 11:30 - 23:00, those with a ‘late licence’ may sell alcohol until midnight. Off-licences may sell alcohol 08:00-23:00.
• Good Friday, 19 April 2019 – Licensed premises may only sell alcohol 17:00 – 23:00, even if they hold a late licence. Off-licences may sell alcohol 08:00-23:00.
• Easter Saturday, 20 April 2019 - Licensed premises may sell alcohol 11:30 - 23:00, those with a late licence may sell alcohol until midnight. Off-licences may sell alcohol 08:00-23:00.
• Easter Sunday, 21 April 2019 – Licensed premises may only sell alcohol 12:30 – 22:00, even if they hold a late licence. Off-licences are not allowed to sell alcohol at all.
• Easter Monday and Tuesday, 22-23 April 2019 – As usual. Licensed premises may sell alcohol 11:30 - 23:00, and those with a late licence may sell alcohol until 01:00. Off-licences may sell alcohol 08:00-23:00.

For licensed hotels and guesthouses, these rules only apply when selling to the public. They can still sell alcohol to overnight guests outside of the permitted hours as usual.

See selling alcohol for more information on licensing laws.