Okay, scratch what I said. It looks like pubs will now be able to stay open until 5am for the England v Mexico World Cup game. With kicks off at 1am on Monday, July 5, this will be a relief for Three Lions fans who have been desperately trying to figure out where to watch the Round of 16 match.
“Football might be coming home, but we’re making sure fans don’t have to,” Keir Starmer said. “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!”
Previously, pubs could only extend hours from 11pm to 1am for games with kick-offs from 5pm to 9pm, and until 2am for kick-offs at 9pm and 10pm. Individual pubs would normally have to apply a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to stay open later. But special allowances are being made.
Pubs and bars will be able to stay open until 5am on Monday morning in England and Wales without any need to apply for extended hours. England fans can now come together at their local to watch the World Cup last-16 match against Mexico in what the government is calling “a welcome boost to the hospitality sector.”
“Pubs and fans will be over the moon about this decision, because we all know the best place to watch the match is down the local,” said Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association. “This tournament is hugely important for our sector, so we’re delighted the government listened to our concerns and acted so quickly.”
The Home Secretary has the legislative power to extend licensing hours on occasions of “exceptional international, national or local significance.” But it will be up to individual pubs to remain open. But we imagine many of us will be calling in sick the next day, wherever we watch it. Thomas Tuchel has even urged parents to let their children bunk off school…
“Write an excuse for school and let them watch,” said the England manager. “There’s so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years. Let them watch. There will be a big match in four days, and we need the support of everyone, especially the children.”
