Fri, 05 Dec 2025

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 Details of plan to keep pubs open longer for World Cup revealed

Licensing hours could be extended to 01:00 if a home nation reaches the final stages next summer.

* A six-week public consultation has been launched on extending pub licensing hours in England and Wales for the World Cup.
* Pubs could stay open until 01:00 if a home nation reaches the quarter-finals or further at the football World Cup.
* The consultation proposes extending licensing hours for semi-finals and final matches to 01:00, if they kick-off at 21:00 or earlier UK time.
* The move would only apply to England and Wales, as Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate licensing regimes.
* Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has the legislative power to extend pub opening hours on occasions of "exceptional international, national or local significance".
* A decision will be taken by the Home Office once responses to the consultation have been reviewed.
* The consultation runs until January.
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