As the festive season approaches, the hospitality sector gears up for extended celebrations. With Christmas and Hogmanay just around the corner, Licensing Boards have announced extended licensing hours for bars, clubs, and other licensed venues.
What Are Extended Licensing Hours?
Extended licensing hours allow licensed premises to remain open beyond their usual closing times. Extensions are typically granted to cater to the increased demand for social activities during the festive season. In Scotland, each Licensing Board has the discretion to set these extended hours, and policies can vary across the different Boards.
Current Policies and Extensions
For the 2024 festive season, all 32 Licensing Boards have now announced their Festive Policies.Some Boards allow for a blanket extension without the need for an application to be made, while others require extended hours applications. In this blog, we have highlighted the policies of the major cities.
The Festive period in Edinburgh is from 18 December 2024 to 2 January 2025 and premises can enjoy an additional two hours beyond their usual terminal hour. The extension is automatically applied to all premises whose operating plans contain seasonal variations.
In Glasgow, the festive period is from 23 November 2024 to 2 January 2025. There are different rules for premises situated in the City Centre and those outwith the City Centre. City centre venues (excluding members clubs) will benefit from an additional hour each night during the festive period, while those venues outwith the City Centre will benefit from an additional hour on Fridays and Saturdays plus Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Hogmanay and New Year's Day. The full Policy can be accessed here: Glasgow – Festive Policy 2024. The extension is automatically applied without the need for an application for all premises whose operating plans contain seasonal variations.
Aberdeen City Licensing Board have agreed to allow a one-hour extension beyond the terminal hour for all premises who adhere to a maximum of 15 hours trading in any 24-hour period for every Friday and Saturday in December, plus Boxing Day, Hogmanay and New Year's Day.Licence holders who satisfy the terms of the policy are not required to apply. The Aberdeen City Policy can be viewed here: General Direction 2024.pdf.
The Festive period in Dundee runs from 1 December 2024 to 2 January 2025. Pubs will be permitted an additional hour each night where the terminal hour is no later than 12 midnight. While nightclubs benefit from an additional hour, the latest that will be granted is 3:30 am.Applications are required to be submitted for any required extensions and must be lodged with the Board by 15 November 2024.Further details can be viewed here: Dundee Festive Policy.
The Highland Licensing Board have defined the Festive period as 6 December 2024 to 3 January 2025. Late night opening premises (with significant entertainment continuously from 10 pm) will be permitted a terminal hour of 4 am on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Hogmanay and New Year's Day. Late night opening premises without significant entertainment and other on-sale premises may open until 2 am. Premises with seasonal variations in their operating plans do not require to apply for these extended hours but are required to notify the Licensing Board and Police Scotland of the dates within the festive period on which it is intended to operate the festive extension. This notification requires to be made prior to 2nd December 2024.
Stirling Licensing Board has approved a blanket extension starting from 13 December 2024 to 2 January 2025. During this period, licensed premises can stay open until 1 am on Sundays to Thursdays, and until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays. On Christmas Eve and Hogmanay, the closing time is extended to 3 am. Late night Premises can open till 3 am on Sundays to Thursdays and until 4 am on Fridays and Saturdays, Christmas Eve and Hogmanay. Licensed premises wishing to make use of the extended hours must first inform Police Scotland by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Festive Hours 2024 | Stirling Council
The extension of licensed hours during the festive season in Scotland provides a wonderful opportunity for the hospitality sector to cater to the increased demand for socialising and celebration. Each Licensing Board has crafted its own policy, so it is essential for licence holders and operators to familiarise themselves with their Board's policy. If your premises is located elsewhere in Scotland, we invite you to contact our Licensing Specialists now at 0141 333 0636 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We would be happy to assist you and discuss your requirements.
