England fans could face a late night if the Three Lions meet Mexico in a World Cup knockout match on Monday, July 6. The match is scheduled to kick off at 1am, raising questions about whether pubs can stay open to broadcast the game.
Pubs Cannot Open Late Automatically
Pubs in England are permitted to open late to show the match, but they must secure explicit written permission first. The Home Office previously granted blanket permission for pubs to stay open until 1am normally, or 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. Since the Mexico match kicks off at 1am, it does not qualify for the extended hours.
Temporary Event Notice Required
To legally show the game, landlords must apply directly to their local council for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN). This grants individual permission to extend licensing hours, potentially allowing them to stay open until 3:30am in the event of extra time and penalties. The government is encouraging councils to support the hospitality sector for the game. Secretary of State for Communities Steve Reed has written to local authorities across the country, urging them to approve the late-night applications submitted by local venues.
Strict Deadlines Cause Issues
The ultimate decision rests with local councils, and strict legal deadlines are already causing problems. For example, one landlord's application was rejected by his council because it was submitted with only four working days of notice, failing to meet the mandatory five working day statutory requirement. Pubs are advised to submit their TEN applications well in advance to avoid rejection.
