UK Government Extends Pub Hours for World Cup Matches in England and Wales

The Home Office announced an extension to pub licensing hours for World Cup matches involving home nations in England and Wales. This applies to round of 32 and round of 16 games starting between 5pm and 9pm, allowing pubs to stay open until 1am. For matches kicking off between 9pm and 10pm, last orders can be extended to 2am.

The extension covers 13 potential home nation matches, including quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final. This marks the first time in a decade that pubs and bars will not need to apply for individual licensing extensions for these stages. Previously, extensions were limited to matches starting between 8pm and 10pm.

Background on the Policy Change The government initially announced in January that pubs and music venues in England would receive a 15 percent discount on business rates bills from April, with no increases for two years.

This three-year package is expected to provide more than £1,500 for the average pub in 2026-2027. The measure follows criticism of the November budget, which resulted in higher business rate bills for many pubs. Davenports Brewery, a brewing and pub retailing company in the West Midlands, operates several pubs including The Queen’s Head in Birmingham city centre.

The company has invested in a large projector screen to attract customers during the World Cup and address rising costs.