So, after a long debate / argument with various people about time zones concerning GMT, BST and the rest of Europe I promised I would put up a short thread explaining it all for those still confused.
GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
This is the international benchmark form which all times are related.
BST (British Summer Time GMT+1)
This is the time zone which the UK shifts to in the summer. BST is a displacement from GMT by +1 hours.
CET (Central European Time GMT +1)
In the winter this is the time zone that Europe works on. +1 hours displaced from GMT.
CEST (Central European Summer Time GMT +2)
This is the time zone that Europe works on in the summer. +2 hours displaced form GMT.
So what goes on when?- In the Winter, the UK runs on GMT and Europe runs on CET (GMT+1).
- In the Summer, the UK runs on BST (GMT+1) and Europe runs on CEST (GMT+2)
Example
Winter - If an event is announced as commencing at 20:00GMT. It translates as starting at 20:00 for the UK and at 21:00CET for Europe.
Summer - If an event is announced as commencing at 20:00GMT. It translates as starting at 21:00BST (UK) and 22:00CEST(Europe).
I hope this clears up many of the questions that arise via time zones and times of events starting / finishing.
This website is a handy tool for looking up time & date information.
Feel free to rob this for your own boards should you find other communities are having the same trouble getting to grips with it all, just give Planetarion the credit and link to us