Pub chain JD Wetherspoon
(Picture: PA Wire)Pub chain JD Wetherspoon is opening all its central London locations from 8am to midnight on Monday so that the millions of mourners expected in the capital on the day of the Queen’s funeral will be able to get something to eat and drink.
The company, headed by Tim Martin also said that outlets at train stations and airports will also stay open during the same hours. Its 57 hotels will be able to serve residents only.
But most of 851 “Spoons” pubs around the UK will open later than usual, after the state funeral, at approximately 1pm and will then remain open during normal trading hours after that.
King Charles has approved a new bank holiday for Monday to “allow individuals, businesses and other organisations to pay their respects to Her Majesty”.
Several leading retailers have announced they will be closing their for the day to allow staff to pay their respects.
Supermarket chains Waitrose, M&S, Aldi, Lidl, Asda and John Lewis have said they will be shut as a sign of respect to the Queen.
McDonald’s has said it will shut its UK restaurants as a mark of respect during the day of the funeral.
The fast-food giant, which has 1,300 sites across the UK, said outlets will be allowed to reopen at 5pm.
In a statement on Twitter, McDonald’s said: “In honour of HM Queen Elizabeth II and to enable everyone at McDonald's to pay their respects, our restaurants across the UK will be closed from midnight until 5pm on Monday 19th September.”
Deliveries will also not be available until after 5pm, the company has said.
Much of normal daily life will be suspended on Monday as the country pays its respects, with hospital bookings, sporting events and court hearings affected.
Other hospitality firms have joined JD Wetherspoon in announcing they will continue to operate.
Pub group Stonegate said it will keep venues open on Monday and plans to show the Queen’s funeral on screens.
Premier Inn owner Whitbread also confirmed it will keep its hotels and restaurants open as usual.
Downing Street has indicated that it is up to individual businesses on how to approach the bank holiday.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said on Wednesday that the day of the funeral will operate as “a standard bank holiday”.
“Obviously individual businesses will need to make the decisions about what’s right for them and discuss with their employees but there is obviously no one-size-fits-all approach.”
