Thursday 28 May 2009

Beer house opening times

There' s a long history of central government regulating pub hours in Britain. Not that such laws have ever been popular with the drinking public.

These are the opening times for beer houses (those pubs not licensed to sell spirits) set in 1836. My modern standards, they're pretty liberal, allowing beers housed to open for 18 hours a day. Except on Sunday and religious holidays.

"XIV. That no person licensed to sell beer by retail under this act shall have or keep his house open for the sale of beer, nor shall sell or retail, nor shall suffer any beer to be drank or consumed, in or at such house, at any time before the hour of four of the clock in the morning nor after ten of the clock in the evening of any day in the week, nor at any time between the hours of ten of the clock in the forenoon and one of the clock in the afternoon, nor at any time between the hours of three and five of the clock in the afternoon, on any Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas Day, or any day appointed for a public fast or thanksgiving; and if any such person shall keep his house open for selling beer, or shall sell or retail beer, at any time after the hour of ten of the clock in the evening or before the hour of four of the clock ¡n the morning of any day, or between the hours of ten of the clock in the forenoon and one of the clock in the afternoon, or between the hours of three and five of the clock in the afternoon, on any Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas Day. or any day appointed for a public fast or thanksgiving, such person shall forfeit the sum of forty shillings for every offence ; and every separate sale shall be deemed a separate offence."
"A collection of statutes connected with the general administration of the law' 1836, page 911

2 comments:

Bill said...

Can you please translate this sentence into English and repost.

Ron Pattinson said...

These were the opening times:

Monday to Saturday 04:00 - 22:00
Sunday 13:00 - 15:00 and 17:00 - 22:00