Pubs allowed to stay open until 5am for England Mexico match
The government had initially said it would not relax licensing laws further for the World Cup.
By BBC News
Pubs across England and Wales will be able to stay open until 5am for England’s World Cup round-of-16 match against Mexico, following a surprise announcement by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The game kicks off at 1am UK time on Monday, July 6, in Mexico City, and the new licensing relaxation ensures fans can watch the full match and celebrate the result without venues closing prematurely.
This decision comes after the government had initially ruled out extending pub opening hours further for the 1am start, stating that the existing 2am rule only applies to matches beginning between 9pm and 10pm. Starmer’s announcement overturned the earlier position, responding to pressure from MPs and fans who called for leeway beyond the standard extended hours already in place for England matches during the tournament.
Throughout the FIFA World Cup, pubs in England have been permitted to extend licensing hours until 1am or 2am for later kick-offs, depending on the match time. However, the 1am Mexico kickoff fell outside this allowance, leaving many venues unable to legally serve patrons after their usual closing time without special permission.
To legally show the game, landlords must apply directly to their local council for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN), which must be submitted no later than five working days beforehand. The deadline for submitting such notices passed earlier this week, before it was confirmed that England would progress to the last 16, leaving many pubs without the necessary permit to stay open late.
Some councils had already been denying TEN requests due to concerns about noise, further complicating the situation for venues hoping to host fans. The Home Office had previously authorized late openings for pubs during England’s World Cup knockout games, but the upcoming match at Azteca Stadium falls outside this allowance due to its 1am start time.
Starmer is now considering ways to extend this temporary lifting of restrictions for this specific occasion, introducing emergency legislation in Parliament to enable supporters to enjoy the game at their local establishments. This move has ignited discussions about further relaxing blanket licensing regulations so the nation can rally behind Harry Kane and his teammates in their neighborhoods.
The decision marks a significant boost for England fans, who will now be able to gather in pubs across the country to watch the match without the risk of venues closing before the game ends. The government had previously stated that it would not relax licensing laws further for the World Cup, but Starmer’s announcement demonstrates a shift in policy to support fans and local businesses.
The change ensures that pubs can remain open until 5am, giving fans ample time to watch the match, celebrate the result, and enjoy the post-game atmosphere. This update comes after a tense win against DR Congo, with England securing a 2-1 victory on Wednesday to advance to the round of 16.
The squad will now face Mexico next week, with the match beginning at 1am in Mexico City. The new licensing relaxation ensures that fans can watch the game in pubs without the need for special permits that were no longer available due to the deadline passing.
The government is backing pubs to allow people to watch and support the team, with the hope that the match will be a success for England. The announcement has been welcomed by fans and business owners alike, who had been concerned about the inability to legally serve patrons after the usual closing time.
The emergency legislation introduced by Starmer will enable pubs to stay open until 5am, providing a clear and straightforward solution to the licensing issue. This move ensures that fans can enjoy the match in their local establishments, without the need for complex permit applications that were no longer possible due to the deadline.
The government’s decision to extend pub opening hours for the 1am match is a notable step in supporting fans and local businesses during the World Cup. It demonstrates a willingness to adapt licensing regulations to meet the needs of fans and ensure that venues can legally serve patrons during the match.
The change ensures that pubs can remain open until 5am, giving fans ample time to watch the game, celebrate the result, and enjoy the post-game atmosphere. This update comes after a period of uncertainty, with the government initially ruling out extending pub opening hours for the 1am start.
Starmer’s announcement overturns this position, responding to pressure from MPs and fans who called for leeway beyond the standard extended hours. The decision ensures that pubs can stay open until 5am, providing a clear and straightforward solution to the licensing issue and allowing fans to enjoy the match in their local establishments.
The government is backing pubs to allow people to watch and support the team, with the hope that the match will be a success for England. The change ensures that pubs can remain open until 5am, giving fans ample time to watch the game, celebrate the result, and enjoy the post-game atmosphere.
This move is a significant boost for England fans, who will now be able to gather in pubs across the country to watch the match without the risk of venues closing before the game ends. The announcement has been welcomed by fans and business owners alike, who had been concerned about the inability to legally serve patrons after the usual closing time.
The emergency legislation introduced by Starmer will enable pubs to stay open until 5am, providing a clear and straightforward solution to the licensing issue. This move ensures that fans can enjoy the match in their local establishments, without the need for complex permit applications that were no longer possible due to the deadline.
The government’s decision to extend pub opening hours for the 1am match is a notable step in supporting fans and local businesses during the World Cup. It demonstrates a willingness to adapt licensing regulations to meet the needs of fans and ensure that venues can legally serve patrons during the match.
The change ensures that pubs can remain open until 5am, giving fans ample time to watch the game, celebrate the result, and enjoy the post-game atmosphere. This update comes after a period of uncertainty, with the government initially ruling out extending pub opening hours for the 1am start.
Starmer’s announcement overturns this position, responding to pressure from MPs and fans who called for leeway beyond the standard extended hours. The decision ensures that pubs can stay open until 5am, providing a clear and straightforward solution to the licensing issue and allowing fans to enjoy the match in their local establishments.
The government is backing pubs to allow people to watch and support the team, with the hope that the match will be a success for England. The change ensures that pubs can remain open until 5am, giving fans ample time to watch the game, celebrate the result, and enjoy the post-game atmosphere.
This move is a significant boost for England fans, who will now be able to gather in pubs across the country to watch the match without the risk of venues closing before the game ends. The announcement has been welcomed by fans and business owners alike, who had been concerned about the inability to legally serve patrons after the usual closing time.
The emergency legislation introduced by Starmer will enable pubs to stay open until 5am, providing a clear and straightforward solution to the licensing issue. This move ensures that fans can enjoy the match in their local establishments, without the need for complex permit applications that were no longer possible due to the deadline.
The government’s decision to extend pub opening hours for the 1am match is a notable step in supporting fans and local businesses during the World Cup. It demonstrates a willingness to adapt licensing regulations to meet the needs of fans and ensure that venues can legally serve patrons during the match.
The change ensures that pubs can remain open until 5am, giving fans ample time to watch the game, celebrate the result, and enjoy the post-game atmosphere. This update comes after a period of uncertainty, with the government initially ruling out extending pub opening hours for the 1am start.
Starmer’s announcement overturns this position, responding to pressure from MPs and fans who called for leeway beyond the standard extended hours. The decision ensures that pubs can stay open until 5am, providing a clear and straightforward solution to the licensing issue and allowing fans to enjoy the match in their local establishments.
The government is backing pubs to allow people to watch and support the team, with the hope that the match will be a success for England. The change ensures that pubs can remain open until 5am, giving fans ample time to watch the game, celebrate the result, and enjoy the post-game atmosphere.
This move is a significant boost for England fans, who will now be able to gather in pubs across the country to watch the match without the risk of venues closing before the game ends. The announcement has been welcomed by fans and business owners alike, who had been concerned about the inability to legally serve patrons after the usual closing time.
The emergency legislation introduced by Starmer will enable pubs to stay open until 5am, providing a clear and straightforward solution to the licensing issue. This move ensures that fans can enjoy the match in their local establishments, without the need for complex permit applications that were no longer possible due to the deadline.
The government’s decision to extend pub opening hours for the 1am match is a notable step in supporting fans and local businesses during the World Cup. It demonstrates a willingness to adapt licensing regulations to meet the needs of fans and ensure that venues can legally serve patrons during the match.
The change ensures that pubs can remain open until 5am, giving fans ample time to watch the game, celebrate the result, and enjoy the post-game atmosphere. This update comes after a period of uncertainty, with the government initially ruling out extending pub opening hours for the 1am start.
Starmer’s announcement overturns this position, responding to pressure from MPs and fans who called for leeway beyond the standard extended hours. The decision ensures that pubs can stay open until 5am, providing a clear and straightforward solution to the licensing issue and allowing fans to enjoy the match in their local establishments.
The government is backing pubs to allow people to watch and support the team, with the hope that the match will be a success for England. The change ensures that pubs can remain open until 5am, giving fans ample time to watch the game, celebrate the result, and enjoy the post-game atmosphere.
This move is a significant boost for England fans, who will now be able to gather in pubs across the country to watch the match without the risk of venues closing before the game ends. The announcement has been welcomed by fans and business owners alike, who had been concerned about the inability to legally serve patrons after the usual closing time.
The emergency legislation introduced by Starmer will enable pubs to stay open until 5am, providing a clear and straightforward solution to the licensing issue. This move ensures that fans can enjoy the match in their local establishments, without the need for complex permit applications that were no longer possible due to the deadline.
The government’s decision to extend pub opening hours for the 1am match is a notable step in supporting fans and local businesses during the World Cup. It demonstrates a willingness to adapt licensing regulations to meet the needs of fans and ensure that venues can legally serve patrons during the match.
The change ensures that pubs can remain open until 5am, giving fans ample time to watch the game, celebrate the result, and enjoy the post-game atmosphere. This update comes after a period of uncertainty, with the government initially ruling out extending pub opening hours for the 1am start.
Starmer’s announcement overturns this position, responding to pressure from MPs and fans who called for leeway beyond the standard extended hours. The decision ensures that pubs can stay open until 5am, providing