Pub rules in England are set to change from Monday, allowing boozers to stay open later for England's knockout matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, provided they obtain permission from their local council. The change follows a government decision announced by the Labour Party.
Extended Hours for Evening Kick-offs
Under the new rules, pubs can remain open until 1am for England matches that kick off between 5pm and 9pm, and until 2am for matches starting between 9pm and 10pm. This covers most evening fixtures in the knockout stages.
England face DR Congo on Wednesday for a place in the round of 16. If they win, they will play Mexico on Monday at 1am, after the hosts secured their spot with a victory in the early hours of this morning.
Early Morning Matches Pose Problem
However, the extended hours do not cover early morning kick-offs like the potential Mexico match. Pubs can apply for extended openings with their local council, but the process requires five working days' notice.
Jason Cleary, who runs The Hodcarrier in Leamington Spa, said his application to stay open late for the potential fixture was "refused" because he "didn't give five working days notice" after submitting it on Monday. "We're celebrating something that only comes around every four years. Everybody becomes an England fan during the World Cup," Cleary said. "If we're playing until 3 o'clock in the morning they need to allow us to show these games, allow us to have a drink and come together."
Council Clarifies Legal Requirements
A spokesperson for Warwick District Council clarified that Cleary's application was not technically refused. "It's important to note that [Whitecross and Cleary's TENs] were not 'refused.' This implies that the council has considered a valid application and exercised its discretion to refuse it. The legislation does not give the council any discretion to accept a TEN that does not meet the prescribed notice requirements."
The council reminded businesses to submit Temporary Event Notices as soon as possible now that fixtures are clearer, so they can be considered.
