Originally posted by Curious Cat
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As I understand it though, the general licencing hours ended at midnight in London, but individual pubs could apply for and be granted an extension if they could demonstrate a local need (eg nearby theatres, markets or trades carried on at all hours). For example, at Nichols' inquest, horse-slaughterer Henry Tom(p)kins said he went to get a drink at about twenty minutes past midnight and returned to work at one am, saying "We always go out to get a drink before the houses close." So presumably at least one pub in the vicinity had had it's licencing hours extended. Whether the Gloucester Arms or the Beehive had such an extension, I couldn't say.
Regardless of entensions, all licenced premesis had to remain closed between 1am and 2am.
So the upshot is, I think, that closing times could vary. But presumably, local people (and obviously the police) would know what time their locals closed. Extended licencing hours, if granted, had to be displayed outside the establishment.
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