The prime minister said the whole country should “come together” this upcoming VE Day to “remember the incredible sacrifices made by the wartime generation and to celebrate the peace and freedom they secured for us all”
Pubs in England and Wales will be able to stay open until 01:00 BST to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the government has confirmed. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said pubs and bars that usually close at 23:00 will be able to keep serving for an extra two hours on Thursday 8 May.
“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,” Starmer said. Similar extensions to pub licensing hours have been used on VE Day anniversaries in previous years, as well as major royal celebrations and significant sporting events such as the Euro 2024 final.
VE Day – or Victory in Europe Day – is celebrated on 8 May each year to mark Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender to Allied forces in World War Two.
The prime minister said the whole country should “come together” this upcoming VE Day to “remember the incredible sacrifices made by the wartime generation and to celebrate the peace and freedom they secured for us all”. The Home Office will lay an order before Parliament for its approval to deliver the change in hours. The longer opening hours have been welcomed by the hospitality industry.
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said the day was not only a moment of remembrance but also an opportunity to come together. “At such a challenging time for the hospitality sector, allowing businesses to extend their trading hours during these celebrations offers a much-needed boost while paying tribute to our shared history,” he said.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, described pubs as “the nation’s second home” and the “perfect place for communities to gather and raise a glass to all of those who made huge sacrifices for our freedom”. Commemorations for this year’s VE Day will begin on the Early May Bank Holiday on 5 May, with a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace and an RAF flypast over London.
Then, on 8 May, there will be a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey before a live concert from Horse Guards Parade, which more than 10,000 members of the public are expected to attend.
A short film looking at intergenerational perspectives of World War Two is being released on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. The National Theatre’s film, The Next Morning, features award-winning actors Julian Glover and Sian Phillips and includes connected stories to present views of the end of World War Two.
It will be screened on 8 May at the VE Day 80 concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. To coincide with the short film, an interactive mobile exhibition of war stories will also tour across the UK, beginning in Coventry, the British city which suffered the most concentrated air attack during the war.
The For Evermore Tour, which launches at Coventry Cathedral on 2 May, has been created by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and will bring to life histories and stories from World War Two.
The CGWC has collated the war experiences of members of the public with funding from the Post Office Remembrance Fellowship. On the evening of 2 May, a concert will be held in Coventry Cathedral to commemorate VE Day 80 in aid of the charitable arm of the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation.
A CWGC spokesperson said: “Set in the stunning historic Coventry Cathedral, this promises to be a magical evening of music, commemoration, and remembrance.” And added the event would, “mark the incredible legacy of liberation left by the veterans of the Second World War and remember over 600,000 men and women of the Commonwealth who lost their lives in this world-changing conflict”.
Claire Horton, director general at the CWGC, said: “By collating these stories in what will become the definitive resource of the stories of those who died in the world wars, we have created an enduring tribute to the men and women from across the Commonwealth who gave their lives, and we ensure that they will never be forgotten.”
The CWG’s Torch for Peace will also be present throughout the tour, which will travel to iconic locations and landmarks across the UK, acting as a baton to pass and share stories with future generations, the CWGC said. Horton said stories of people whose lives were “cut short by conflict must be told and shared”.
