Festive licensing extension approved for pubs and clubs

PUBS and clubs in Shetland will again be able to stay open longer this Christmas after councillors gave the green light to extended licenses.

All on-sale licensed premises in Shetland which are usually open until 1am will be able to stay open an extra hour, until 2am, from 20 December until 4 January, both dates inclusive.

Nightclubs such as Trench – which are licensed to remain open until 3am at weekends only – can open until 3am any night they chose during the 15-day period.

Shetland Islands Council’s licensing board approved the extension on Monday.

Shetland Central member Catherine Hughson moved that the extension be granted given there were no objections from the police or the licensing standards officer.

Chairman Neil Pearson said the instruction from the board is to consume alcohol responsibly, “but as always, merry Christmas Shetland”.

The only time the extension has not been granted in recent years was in 2020, when elected members had concerns that it could give out the wrong message during the Covid pandemic.