Not a single UK pub is open for 24 hours, a year after new licensing laws came in, allowing longer opening, and predictions of increased town-centre violence fuelled by higher alcohol consumption have failed to materialise.
According to chief inspector Lawrence Hobbs of Brighton police: Pubs and clubs with 24-hour licences are simply closing when customers go home. It just isn't viable for them to stay open any longer.'
Richard Marshall-Duffield, landlord at the Famous Three Kings, in Fulham, which closes at 1am at the weekend said: People are ready to leave of their own accord at 2am. We used to have trouble here at closing time but now drinkers actually shake the hand of the doorman.'