Keir Starmer considers relaxing pub hours for crucial England World Cup match
Keir Starmer is poised to let all pubs stay open until the small hours of the morning for England’s crunch World Cup game on Monday, reports BritPanorama.
The Three Lions take on Mexico in a clash set to begin at 1am UK time, raising calls for the relaxation of licensing laws that could translate into significant financial benefits for the hospitality industry.
Pubs have already enjoyed extended hours during England’s progress in the knockout stages of the tournament. However, Monday’s match at the Azteca falls outside the current regulations due to its late start time.
Now, Sir Keir, a die-hard Arsenal fan, is evaluating options for a temporary lifting of restrictions. In response to the consideration, Liberal Democrat MP Max Wilkinson remarked, “See you in the pub,” emphasizing the importance of allowing extended licensing for the match.
Wilkinson had advocated for a blanket extension, declaring that denying such measures would rank as “the worst decision since the introduction of hydration breaks.” Official reports indicate that 16.3 million viewers tuned in to watch England’s previous victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday.
England captain Harry Kane secured a place in the round of 16 by netting two goals in that match. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, highlighted her concerns regarding the situation.
She stated, “We remain in close contact with government about concerns raised by publicans who want to show the match but haven’t got temporary event notices in place. It would be a crying shame for fans and pubs if our locals weren’t able to host such an important match.”
England manager Thomas Tuchel has also urged that children stay up late to witness the match. When asked if the prime minister supports this suggestion, Downing Street stated that “parents will make their own decision on that” while advising that “kids should be in school on Monday.”
Sir Keir’s spokeswoman reiterated the desire for everyone to enjoy the game but underlined that children should attend school. She noted, “The PM has his usual packed schedule on Monday, so he’ll be facing the same dilemma as everyone else on whether to stay up.”
Education minister Baroness Jacqui Smith mentioned her plan to take a “disco nap” on Sunday afternoon in preparation for the late-night match.
Licensing hours for World Cup matches have been extended from 11pm to 1am for games kicking off between 5pm and 9pm. Pubs are permitted to remain open until 2am for matches starting after 9pm, offering a limited window for late-night operations.
Beyond those rules, establishments can apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to extend their hours, although this must be submitted at least five working days in advance, which has created timing issues for many pubs hoping to capitalize on the significant event.
The unfolding dynamics reflect both the passion for football in England and the complexities of regulatory frameworks concerning public entertainment during such pivotal moments.
