The hard hit hospitality sector could be in for a big boost from the looming men’s World Cup if early bookings are anything to go by
Pubs have seen a rush of England fans snapping-up tickets to watch World Cup games – despite the tournament not starting for another two months.
Those keen to get prime seats in front of big screens – particularly with large outdoor spaces or fan zones at popular venues – are getting in early. Some pubs say initial demand is stronger than at this point before previous tournaments.
The scramble for tickets comes as the Home Office further eased licencing laws, allowing pubs to stay open later to show all England and Scotland matches.
The World Cup is held across the United States, Mexico and Canada. England’s three group games start at either 9pm or 10pm, starting with Croatia on June 19.
In a welcome boost for the beleaguered hospitality industry, the Home Office has given the green light for extended licensing hours across England and Wales for matches featuring England and Scotland in the knockout stages.
Under the new rules, pubs will be permitted to serve until 1am for games kicking off between 5pm and 9pm – and until 2am for later fixtures starting between 9pm and 10pm.
The announcement follows an adjustment to earlier proposals, ensuring fans watching evening knockout ties will also benefit from the extended hours.
Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, said: “If our boys are on the pitch, we want our fans to stay in the pub. We won’t have fans coming home before football does.”
Dates and UK times of home nations’ group games
England
England v Croatia – June 19 – 9pm
England v Ghana – June 23 – 9pm
England v Panama – June 27 – 10pm
Scotland
Scotland v Haiti – June 14 – 2am
Scotland v Morocco – June 19 – 11pm
Scotland v Brazil – June 24 – 11pm
Big Penny Social, a large beer hall with a big outdoor area in Walthamstow, east London, says it has limited space left for England’s opening game.
Faye Daniels, of the 1,400-capacity venue, which charges £12 per ticket, told The Times: “We haven’t yet sold out, but we’re certainly seeing strong demand already.
“I’d always advise people to book early for big matches. For the Euros final in 2024 we sold out tickets in 28 seconds, with over 35,000 people on the waiting list.”
Flat Iron Square, a large outdoor event space near London Bridge, has already sold out for the Croatia game despite table seats, which include a free drink, costing up to £25.
Callum Taylor, manager of the White Horse in Coventry, said: “It’s been pretty popular. We’ve been much busier with bookings than the last tournament. I think we’ll be full to the rafters.”
Tim Martin, boss of pun giant JD Wetherspoon, told the Mirror: “Normally we either have TVs switched off or just showing the news with no volume and subtitles.
“The exception is the World Cup and one or two other events, such as the Six Nations. So we’ll be showing the games although, frankly, we have far less screens than bona fide sports bars.”
He went on: “We don’t take bookings, unlike some pubs, so we’re hoping for a slight boost to trade for the big games, touch wood.”
Rachel Kiernan-Moreton, deputy manager of the Gosta Green pub in Birmingham, said it had yet to have any World Cup bookings but expected the first to come in the next couple of weeks.
The pub, which is popular with students, has a number of screens throughout the venue, including a 10ft high mega-screen.
