Licensees need to get prepared for rugby World Cup

Related tags Rugby world cup United kingdom

Licensees who want to show rugby World Cup matches should start to apply to magistrates for licence extensions. The event, which is being held in...

Licensees who want to show rugby World Cup matches should start to apply to magistrates for licence extensions.

The event, which is being held in Australia in October and November, will see some matches start as early as 4am.

Licensees are being advised that although the Licensing Bill should receive Royal Assent in July they will still be operating under the existing magistrates system.

It was estimated that the football World Cup brought in an extra £165m for the trade and licensees could also be reaping the benefits of opening early to show rugby World Cup matches.

Rob Hayward, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: "The last two games showed there is substantial interest in the cup. Licensees should make their applications early for extensions to cover many of the matches because the law will not have been changed at that point."

Licensees should be able to get extended hours for the event following the ruling in April last year of High Court judge Lord Chief Justice Lord Woolf. He dismissed case law from 1978 which said the football World Cup was not a "special occasion" and should not be grounds for extended hours.

At the High Court hearing Martin Gough, licensee of John Barras pub the White Hart in Bristol, successfully appealed against his local magistrates' decision not to allow his pub to open early for the games.

Mr Gough, backed by the BBPA and pub operator Scottish & Newcastle, challenged the case law by arguing times have changed and watching sport in pubs is now a part of British culture. The judge said future applications would be considered individually but added they would be viewed favourably from pubs that demonstrate they provide suitable facilities for fans.

According to the ruling, suitable facilities include: