Pubs across the UK will be able to extend opening hours until 2am if England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland reach the knockout stage of this summer’s World Cup
Pubs across the country will be permitted to remain open until 2am this summer during the football World Cup – provided any of the home nations progress to the knockout stages.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has given the green light to extended trading hours for the knockout phase of the competition, which will be jointly staged across the US, Canada and Mexico. According to The Sun, publicans will also have the option to request temporary licences for exceptionally late kick-offs that might conclude after 2am, owing to the significant time difference.
Ms Mahmood commented: “With later kick‐offs at this year’s World Cup, we don’t want pubs to blow the final whistle before the winning goal. So we’re showing red tape the red card and taking pub hours to extra time so fans can get another round in without missing a single kick.
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“We’re toasting our boys at the World Cup and our locals this summer. Fans won’t need to go home, before football’s come home.”
Reports suggest the Home Secretary had initially contemplated restricting late opening to occasions when a home nation reached the quarter-finals or beyond. However, she has now sanctioned extended hours until 1am for the majority of knockout fixtures, with a 2am closing time for matches that commence at 10pm.
The British Beer and Pub Association described the move to The Sun as “a win for pubs, jobs and community spirit”.
England and Scotland have both secured their places at the tournament, which gets underway on June 11, whilst either Wales or Northern Ireland could yet join them through the playoff route.
