Wetherspoon pubs will be among those to change their opening hours next month to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation.

Licensing hours at bars, clubs and pubs have been relaxed by the government for the three-day bank holiday weekend as part of efforts to encourage the nation to celebrate.

Under temporary rules granted by ministers, venues will be permitted to remain open until 1am between Friday, May 5 and Sunday, May 7 should they wish to, before reverting to normal closing times on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Home Secretary, under Section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003, can make an order relaxing licensing hours to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”, and the coronation is an occasion, says the government, which will see the country 'united in celebration across the bank holiday weekend'.

King Charles will be officially crowned the new monarch of Great Britain and the Commonwealth on Saturday, May 6 after which two further days of celebrations will follow that will include a huge concert at Windsor Castle.

J D Wetherspoon – which has 844 pubs across the country – is reportedly making plans to keep all of its establishments open one hour later on Sunday night.

Therefore if branches currently stay open until 10pm on Sundays, they will keep the doors open until 11pm on Sunday, May 7. Others may remain open until midnight or 1am, but closing times will remain particular to each venue depending on their current licence.

Greene King, which is brewing and selling its own Coronation Ale to mark the historic occasion, and Fullers are also expected to extend the opening hours at some of their pubs for the coronation bank holiday.

Businesses selling food can only extend their opening hours if they too are serving alcohol.

Suella Braverman added: "Our country, and in particular our hospitality industry, has faced many challenges in recent years and the King’s Coronation is an opportunity to give a boost to our local businesses, and celebrate with our local communities.

"Over the Bank Holiday weekend we can raise a glass to our new monarch, and with our friends and families wish him a long and successful reign."

The British Beer and Pub Association is among those to have welcomed the extension calling it a ‘timely boost’ for the industry which is battling with rising costs and staff shortages in hospitality.