Pubs and bars across England are set to receive a major boost this summer as the government announces extended licensing hours until 2am during the World Cup knockout stages. The move is designed to allow football fans to support England and Scotland without interruption.
Extended Opening Times
Venues will be permitted to stay open until 1am for knockout matches kicking off between 5pm and 9pm, and until 2am for later matches starting between 9pm and 10pm. The extensions will be automatically applied based on match schedules.
Government Warning to Councils
Alongside the blanket extensions, ministers are issuing a direct warning to local authorities to show the "fun police the red card" and refrain from blocking special outdoor screenings or enforcing cut-off times in beer gardens.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has thrown his support behind the hospitality sector, stating that "red tape should not get in the way of fans enjoying the game with friends."
"Nothing brings us all together like a World Cup summer and cheering on England in a packed pub with everyone glued to the game," the Prime Minister said. "A pavement pint in the sunshine discussing the agony of penalties and soaking up the atmosphere is what pubs are all about and we are backing them."
He added: "Let's hope we get a summer of fans enjoying great England wins on the big screen in packed pub gardens."
Support for Outdoor Screenings
Communities Secretary Steve Reed echoed Sir Keir's sentiment and urged local councils to fast-track applications for Temporary Event Notices (TENs) for pub gardens.
"The best World Cup moments are the ones we watch together," Reed said. "We're asking councils to support as many applications for special events as possible, because the last thing any of us want to see is people being turfed indoors half-way through penalties."
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds called on local leaders to apply a "common sense approach" rather than enforcing strict, arbitrary noise curfew hours during crucial knockout matches.
Permanent Reforms for Outdoor Dining
In a further bid to revitalise high streets, the government also committed to permanent reforms for outdoor dining and drinking. Currently, businesses face a bureaucratic burden by having to constantly reapply for pavement licences at a renewal cost of £350.
To ease this financial strain, the government announced plans to increase the maximum term length of these licences and will soon launch a consultation on setting a mandatory minimum term length.
Part of Wider Regeneration Programme
The licensing relaxations form part of the government's wider £5.8 billion Pride in Place programme, which targets high street regeneration across nearly 380 areas nationwide.
To help you plan ahead, we've compiled a list of the 24 pubs and places to watch the World Cup 2026 in Greater Manchester.
