Pubs in England will be allowed to stay open late to broadcast the potential World Cup first round match against Mexico on Monday 6 July. However, you are not automatically permitted to do so and must first obtain your express written permission.
The Home Office had previously given full permission for pubs to stay open until 1am in normal times and until 2am for late kick-offs. However, the Department for Communities and Local Government confirmed that the 2am rule only applies to matches kicking off between 9pm and 10pm, and excludes 1am kick-offs.
To legally show games, landlords must apply for an Extraordinary Event Notification (TEN) directly with their local government. This would allow businesses to be granted separate permits to extend their license hours, potentially allowing them to open until 3:30 a.m. if extended or penalized.
The Government is actively encouraging Parliament to support the gaming hospitality sector. Secretary of State for Communities Steve Reid has already written to local authorities across the country asking them to approve late-night applications submitted by local venues.
The final decision rests with local councils, and strict legal deadlines are already causing problems. For example, one landlord’s application was rejected by the City Council because it was submitted with just four business days’ notice, which did not meet the statutory requirement of five business days.
