Pubs in the UK will be allowed to open later than usual over the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, the government has announced.
Venues in England and Wales will be granted permission to extend their opening hours from 11pm to 1am over the celebratory long weekend, which will run from Thursday 2 June to Saturday 4 June.
The plans come in preparation for a long weekend of festivities, designed to mark 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne.
Whether you are a royalist or not, it will be a huge historical moment for the country – marking Queen Elizabeth II as the longest-reigning incumbent monarch and the longest-reigning female monarch in history.
Even if you don’t want to celebrate the royals, you can still enjoy a few extra hours in the pub this June as a perk.
It’s been reported that the Queen likes a bit of a tipple herself, and is a particular fan of martinis.
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According to former royal chef Darren McGrady. she starts her day off with a cocktail of gin and wine-based aperitif Dubonnet, served with ice and a slice of lemon.
At lunch, she takes a glass of wine or a gin martini, and later reportedly enjoys a glass of champagne or two with her dinner.
It has been reported separately in Vanity Fair that she also enjoys another martini after dinner.
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Image: The Crown and Kettle
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Elizabeth II became Queen on 6 February 1952 and officially became the UK’s longest-reigning monarch in 2015 when she surpassed the reign of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.
When she commemorated 65 years on the throne with her Sapphire Jubilee in 2017, she was the first British monarch to ever do so. Now, this summer, she will break another record as she celebrates her Platinum Jubilee.
As part of the celebrations. the BBC has announced plans to host a special ticketed concert at Buckingham Palace this June, with performances from global pop and rock stars, opera singers and a full, live orchestra.
Image: The City Arms
Celebrities will celebrate some of the most significant moments from HRH’s reign, with 10,000 tickets available on a first-come-first-served basis.
The extended pub licensing hours for the Platinum Jubilee could possibly be a sign of things to come in Britaingoing forward.
It has been said by the minister for policing, Kit Malthouse, the government wants to relax closing times for pubs more generally.
Speaking to The Independent, the minister said that an impact assessment is currently being prepared by officials to make amends to Section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003.
The Act currently permits extended hours at moments of local, national and international significance, but it’s been suggested that the government intends to relax these further.
Feature image – Sadler’s Cat
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Police issue statement after triple stabbing at Manchester high school
Emily Sergeant
A formal update and police statement has now been issued following a stabbing at a high school in Manchester earlier this morning.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said officers were called to reports of a stabbing at a school on Plant Hill Road in Blackley – confirmed to be Co-op Academy Manchester – earlier this morning (Tuesday 9 June 2026), and when they arrived on the scene, they discovered that two students and a teacher had been injured.
Staff were quick to detain a girl to ensure no further harm came to pupils or staff, before police arrived shortly afterwards.
A 14-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault, and remains in custody for questioning.
At this time, officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and have stated that there is no wider threat to the public.
The police have issued a statement after a triple stabbing at a Manchester high school / Credit: GMP
As mentioned, three people were injured during the incident – a 14-year-old schoolgirl, a 14-year-old schoolboy, and a 27-year-old male member of staff. All were taken to hospital, however thankfully, their injuries are not believed to be serious, and they are stable at this time.
Giving a statement following the shocking incident earlier this morning, Chief Inspector Jon Shilvock said: “We understand that this incident will have cause concern to pupils, staff and the wider school community.
“The incident was swiftly and quickly dealt with by staff before officers attended to arrest the girl. There is believed to be no wider threat at this time, and we thank everyone for their support as emergency services dealt with this.
“We are not looking anyone further in connection this with this incident.
“Officers will remain at the school and within the area to provide a visible presence and community reassurance.”
Featured Image – Google Maps
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The Weeknd at Etihad Stadium, Manchester – setlist, stage times, tickets and more
Daisy Jackson
The Weeknd’s enormous After Hours Til Dawn world tour will touch down in Manchester this week for two huge stadium shows.
The Blinding Lights singer had previously skipped our city in favour of London, but added two gigs at the Etihad Stadium last autumn, along with new dates in Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon, Copenhagem, Munich and Lille.
The 2026 After Hours Til Dawn Stadium Tour has taken the Canadian diamond-certified global star across the globe.
The Weeknd’s seventh concert tour has been going since 2022, but has evolved over the years ahead of its return to Manchester.
Last time he performed in Manchester back in 2023, some fans were upset with his giant view-blocking moon balloon – but thankfully, The Weeknd is leaving that at home this time.
Instead, you can expect more pyrotechnics and lasers than the Etihad Stadium has ever seen, and a setlist packed with hits.
Here’s everything you need to know for The Weeknd at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
What dates is The Weeknd performing in Manchester?
The Weeknd is heading to Manchester this week. Credit: Sebastien Nagy
Thursday 11 June
Friday 12 June
Tickets for The Weeknd at the Etihad Stadium
If you’re hoping to go along to The Weeknd in Manchester, but haven’t sorted tickets yet, worry not.
There’s still really good availability on tickets at the time of writing, especially for Thursday 11 June.
You can see the latest ticket availability for Thursday 11 June HERE and Friday 12 June HERE.
Remaining tickets are priced like so:
Limited view seats – £84.20
Seated tickets – £123.10, £155.75, £204.50
General admission pitch standing – £144.70
East or West pitch standing – £177.50
Expected setlist for The Weeknd
The incredible staging that The Weeknd will bring to Manchester. Credit: Sebastien Nagy
This is the most recent setlist The Weeknd has been using for his South American leg – but it has been changing as the tour has progressed.
This looks like a long setlist, but he does shorten a lot of these right down into one huge mash-up of his hits.
Baptized in Fear
Open Hearts
Wake Me Up
After Hours
Starboy
Heartless
Faith
Cry for Me
São Paulo
Rio
Take My Breath
Sacrifice (Swedish House Mafia remix)
How Do I Make You Love Me?
Can’t Feel My Face
Lost in the Fire (Gesaffelstein cover)
Timeless
Often
I Was Never There
Given Up on Me
The Hills
Creepin’ (Metro Boomin cover)
Niagara Falls
One of the Girls
Stargirl Interlude
Out of Time
I Feel It Coming
Die for You
Is There Someone Else?
Wicked Games
Call Out My Name
The Abyss
Save Your Tears
Less Than Zero
Blinding Lights
Encore
Without a Warning
House of Balloons
Moth to a Flame (Swedish House Mafia cover)
Stage times
VIP Early Access – 4.30pm
Turnstiles open – 5pm
Prince 85 – 6.15pm
Playboi Carti – 7pm
The Weeknd – 8.10pm
Curfew – 10.30pm
Who is supporting The Weeknd in Manchester?
The first support act for The Weeknd in Manchester is Prince 85, a frequent collaborator and mysterious music producer and artist.
Up next will be rap sensation Playboi Carti, another of The Weeknd’s collaborators, who’s known for hits like Magnolia, Sky, and Shoota, as well as his fashion-forward aesthetic and high-energy live shows.
Georgina Pellant -
22nd March 2022 
