Thursday October 30th 2025
East Lothian Council headquarters
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
Pubs in East Lothian have been given some early festive cheers after licensing chiefs announced extra drinking hours over the holidays.
East Lothian Licensing Board today confirmed plans to given a general extension to all hospitality venues allowing them to stay open until 2am on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day this year with the late last orders also available on Hogmanay and New Year’s Day.
Licensing chiefs have issued the extra drinking hours since 2019 across the county and this year they are asking landlords who take advantage of the extension to get in touch after the holidays are over so they can study how popular it is.
The board’s legal adviser Carlo Grilli told a meeting of board members that it was hoped they would be able to “build up statistics to see how the extended hours are being utilised across the county” after this year’s holiday period is over.
Board convenor Councillor Lachlan Bruce announced the general extension for this year’s festive season which covers on sales only and means there is no need for any premises to apply for permission to take advantage of the late opening on the dates approved.
Tweet Share on Facebook
