Pub closing hours

I'm amazed now that the licensing laws have been relaxed that most of the pubs in London shut at 11pm prompt. Worse still they want you out the door by 11:20pm at the latest. I'm northern and visit for one weekend a year. most of the pubs round my way have had midnight opening for at least ten years. I went to Barcelona last year and it really does put London to shame in the way it treats it's drinkers. At 11pm when the London pubs are shutting and everyones going home, Barcelona is in full swing. At 46 years old night clubs are of no interest to me all i want is a pub that opens until midnight or so, is this too much to ask in the capital?

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Good point Andy. I was suprised at how few pubs have taken advantage of the new laws - even just staying open until 12.

I think a lot of people feel the same that it would just be nice to be able to carry on until 12. Last year I invited a few mates to London for a few beers in town on a Tuesday night, I assumed that it would be quite busy and we'd be able to get a few late drinks. I was quite embarrased when we were kicked out at 11:20 and couldn't find anywhere open apart from clubs, we ended up in a club with about 10 people in.

My mates weren't impressed, especially after me building London up as "The city that never sleeps" - it really was a crap night - there seems to be more on offer in Andover where one of them came from. :emb:

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Wouldn't be so bad if they gave you 30-40mins drinking up time, but they shut the doors at 11:20 prompt and want you out. It's a disgusting way to treat customers, foreign visitors must be amazed at this. The pubs round my way that shut at 11pm let you stay until 11:30 before asking for your glasses. Come on London with the Olmypics coming up you need to shape up.

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