PUB-GOERS in the Borders can look forward to longer supping up times to mark King Charles III’s coronation holiday weekend.

The council’s Licensing Board endorsed an across-the-board extension of licensing hours from Thursday, May 4 to Sunday, May 7, until 1am on each day.

The move will avoid the need for the board to consider extended hours requests from individual premises.

In his report to the board meeting, Mike Wynne, SBC’s licensing standards and enforcement officer, says: “It is anticipated that some licensed premises within the Scottish Borders may apply for extended hours to their premises licence on the holiday weekend.

“The board may determine to grant a general extension of licensed hours for the King’s coronation holiday weekend. This would allow an  extension of terminal hours for the sale of alcohol during that period until 1am.

“Whilst most licensed premises within the Scottish Borders have licensed hours until 1am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays they do not have these hours on a Sunday and approving this general extension would negate the submission of extended hours applications to the board.”

Speaking at Friday's meeting, board member councillor Tom Weatherston said: “This about consistency and we have done this several times before and it is a special occasion, it is a bank holiday, so I think we should do the same.”

The proposed extension would only apply to on-sales and not to off-sales of alcohol.