With the Queen’s funeral taking place today (September 19), a number of bars, restaurants and pubs have announced whether they will be staying open or closing for the Bank Holiday. A statement issued by the government on the matter states that there is ‘no obligation to suspend businesses’ and that any decision to open or close will be at the ‘discretion of individual businesses’.
Stonegate Group, the UK’s biggest pub group, which has over 1000 managed pubs and many more tenanted and leased houses, will be keeping its managed pubs open, which would include the likes of The Levenshulme, The Beech Inn in Chorlton and The Met in Didsbury.
A spokesperson said: “The passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is a momentous and sombre occasion. We send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family at this sad time. Our Managed pubs, bars and venues remain open and, where possible, will show the funeral on Monday 19 September to honour her life and service.
READ MORE: The best pubs in Manchester and Salford
“Across our Leased and Tenanted estate, our Pub Partners will make an independent decision applicable to their business and community. To find what’s on at your nearest pub, please visit their website and social media accounts.”
Wetherspoons pubs will open ‘the majority’ of its pubs from 1pm on Monday, following the state funeral, and will operate ‘normal trading hours after that’, so that means pubs including the Moon Under Water on Deansgate, The Waterhouse on Princess Street and the Sedge Lyn in Chorlton.
However, Wetherspoons’ pubs in central London will be open as normal from 8am until midnight, as will its hotels nationwide.
Greene King pubs, which include the Lass O Gowrie, Ye Olde Cock in Didsbury and the Kings Ransom in Sale, will also open, as will all Greene King pubs across the country, with many screening the funeral coverage.
A spokesperson for Greene King said: “Our pubs are a place for communities to come together, so all of our pubs in central London and most of those with televisions across the country will be open throughout Monday showing HM Queen Elizabeth’s funeral service.
“For those pubs and restaurants that don’t have televisions, such as our casual dining venues, we’ll be opening after the service. Customers are advised to contact their local pub to confirm opening times as these could be subject to change.”
Joseph Holt's 125 pubs across the north west will be open too. It said in a statement: "The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen will take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday 19th September at 11am. As a pub at the heart of your local community, we are opening our doors at 10.30am on Monday to allow you to watch the funeral service with us.
"We are proud to provide a safe and relaxed space for people in our community to come together to pay their respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We know that many people struggle being alone at times like this and our pub is there to welcome you in with a comforting smile for anyone that does not want to be alone on such a sad day."
Brewdog has said that all of its UK bars will be closed until 2pm on the Bank Holiday, and their hotels will remain open for hotel guests only. Heineken's pub arm, Star Pubs & Bar, said it may keep some of its venues open for the day, but would allow independent leaseholders to decide.
Mitchell and Butler, the chain which runs restaurants and bars including Harvester, O'Neill's and All Bar One has announced that it's venues will stay open and show the funeral where possible, and that customers should check with their local pub for opening times.
Deansgate steakhouse Hawksmoor has said that it intends to open, and has clarified its position in a tweet. “Grief, even national grief, is personal. There are few ‘right’ ways of grieving, and few established ‘correct’ ways of being respectful. The government have specifically issued guidance saying it’s your choice,” they said.
Manchester's high-end Indian Restaurant Asha's on Peter Street also announced via Instagram that it would be closed for the entirety of Monday. Elsewhere, restaurants operating today include Domino's Pizza, which will open from noon and Ask and Pizza Express, which will both open from 3pm after the funeral. Pizza Hut will also open from 2pm.
In terms of fast food, both Greggs and McDonald’s have now announced that they will be closing all of their UK outlets. McDonald’s will close from Midnight until 5pm on the day of the funeral. In a statement, it said: “All of our UK restaurants will be closed on Monday until 5pm, to allow everyone at McDonald’s to pay their respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
