Pubs in England and Wales will be allowed to stay open until 5am so they show in full England’s World Cup match against Mexico on Monday morning.
The government originally said it would not relaxed licensing laws which have already been extended for hospitality businesses to screen the football tournament. In April, the rules were changed to allow opening until 1am for games with kick-offs from 5pm up to 9pm, and 2am for kick offs between 9pm and 10pm.
However, England’s World Cup round-of-16 game against Mexico begins at 1am UK time which means it will end after 2am and it’s too late for pubs to apply for a temporary license extension from their local council.
After many calls for the rules to be expanded further, prime minister Keir Starmer has now said all pubs in England and Wales can stay open until 5am.
The rules can be changed under the home secretary’s legislative power to extend licensing hours on occasions of “exceptional international, national or local significance”.
Prime minister Keir Starmer said:
“Football might be coming home but we’re making sure fans don’t have to.
“Pubs staying open till the final whistle is good news for supporters and good news for the pubs and venues that bring our communities together.
“The whole country will be backing the team. Come on England!”
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), said:
“This is fantastic news and will be hugely welcomed by operators. The government has listened to the overwhelming public support for England and recognised the challenges facing pubs and licensed premises across the country.
“This pragmatic approach allows venues to focus on what matters most – bringing communities together to support the national team. Major sporting occasions like this deliver a significant boost to hospitality businesses while creating an atmosphere that unites the country.
“As England heads into one of the biggest games of the tournament, let’s get behind the team, support our local venues, and give the country something positive to celebrate. We hope this weekend marks not only a memorable occasion for England on the pitch, but also a much-needed boost for our hospitality sector and the communities it serves.”
The change of heart on allowing pubs to stay open for the England football match comes as many hospitality businesses are reporting tough times to due to increased costs.
The government has reduced VAT from 20% to 5% on children’s meals during the summer to encourage families to eat out, but hospitality groups say reduced VAT should be extended. The #VATsTheProblem campaign is calling for VAT to be cut to 10% for all hospitality.