Trade awaits World Cup ruling

Related tags World cup Appeal

Magistrates across the UK are awaiting the outcome of a High Court appeal before deciding whether to grant pubs extensions for this year's World Cup...

Magistrates across the UK are awaiting the outcome of a High Court appeal before deciding whether to grant pubs extensions for this year's World Cup games.

The appeal by Bristol licensee Martin Gough, who runs the White Hart in Brislington, will challenge case law from the 1970s which says the World Cup is not a participatory event and should not warrant a licence extension.

Only a few applications, most notably in Northampton, have so far been approved, and the trade is seeking a change to the outdated law. The appeal is due to be heard on April 12, and has the backing of the pub's owner Scottish & Newcastle as well as the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).

The trade will argue that football in pubs has moved on since the 1978 World Cup and a change in the law is overdue.

If Mr Gough wins, it is likely that magistrates in other parts of the country will take heed and allow pubs to serve alcohol as early as 7.30am for some of the matches, which are being played in Japan and South Korea.

Already magistrates in Rossendale, Lancashire, have told one licensee he can't have a decision on his application until the Bristol case is heard.

Steven Butterworth, licensee of the Cock & Magpie, said his case had been adjourned until April 17. "The magistrates agreed with my application but the police objected," Mr Butterworth said. "Now they've said they will wait to see what happens at the High Court."

Mark Hastings, spokesman for the BBPA, said: "If we are successful then magistrates across the country will be able to grant extensions."

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Pubs granted World Cup extensions (1 March 2002)

Pubs will fight to open early and serve alcohol for World Cup (28 February 2002)

Extensions for World Cup fail (14 February 2002)

Publican's bid to open early for World Cup looks bleak (7 February 2002)

World Cup opening hours face objections from police (15 November 2001)

World Cup opening is still in balance (8 November 2001)

Pubs given nod to sell alcohol from 6am for World Cup matches (2 November 2001)

Early kick-off for World Cup means publicans may miss out on money-spinner (14 September 2001)