The upcoming World Cup is an excellent opportunity for operators to boost trade at a much needed time for our beloved but somewhat beleaguered pub industry.
The tournament runs for a little over a month with the opening game kicking off at 8pm on Thursday 11 June and the trophy will be lifted sometime in the evening of Sunday 19 July.
So far we know England and Scotland have qualified while Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland all hope to reach the finals through the play-offs.
With games involving England which could be as far south as Mexico City, as far north as Vancouver, as far west as Los Angeles and as far east as Miami, kick off times are going to cause a headache for publicans wanting to show the games.
If you haven’t already started, now is definitely the time to think ahead and plan so you can maximise the opportunities that the World Cup may provide.
What about licensing hours?
It’s been widely reported that the Government will relax licensing hours for premises in England & Wales.
The exact detail is yet to be confirmed but it looks as though any game after the group stages involving a home nation team that kicks off at or before 9pm then premises will be able to sell alcohol until 1am the following morning.
If the game kicks off after 9am but no later than 10pm then premises will be able to sell alcohol until 2am the following morning.
Any game that kicks off after 10pm will be out of scope for the relaxation of hours and a Temporary Event Notice (“TEN”) will be required.
Be aware that the Republic of Ireland are not a “home nation” and so any pub wanting to host the many fans of that great nation will need to track their schedule and consider the need for TENs.
Across Scotland, Boards are going through their own processes on consulting on local relaxation of hours.
Group stages
England’s group stage games all kick off at either 9pm or 10pm. The games should therefore be over around 11pm or midnight.
Does your premises licence extend that late? Should you think about TENs to open a little later to ensure your customers can enjoy a bit of post-game analysis rather than you having to close up?
Scotland’s have two group games that kick off at 11pm and one at 2am. It is highly likely that these will fall outside many publican’s licensing hours and so to show these you will need to issue TENs.
Knockout rounds
Assuming England qualify from their group then regardless of finishing first, second or third there is at least one game on their route to the final that will kick-off after 10pm. Therefore, you will need to issue a TEN to open for those matches.
Scotland’s route to the final is somewhat simpler and only if they finish second is there a game that will kick off after 10pm.
Careful use of TENs
Due to the deadline for issuing TENs you will probably have to submit them before you know the outcome of the group stages. You should therefore track every possible game that you may wish to open and issue a TEN in the near future to cover each eventuality. This will give you the certainty to know you can open.
As the tournament progresses you can then withdraw unnecessary TENs. Provided you do so at least 24 hours before the TEN would start you will retain the use of those TENs for other reasons in 2026.
For a more detailed look at World Cup licensing hours and TENs please refer to Poppleston Allen’s updated article and handy wall chart planner.
Operational considerations
Apart from ensuring you are licensed to open what are other considerations and pitfalls to be aware off?
Showing of live sport
Live TV broadcasts including sport are not classed as licensable activities under the Licensing Act 2003 however you will need to ensure you have the appropriate TV licence in place.
Beer gardens
Let’s hope the vagaries of the British weather enable the use of beer gardens throughout a summer of sport. Which extends way beyond just the football World Cup.
You should check the conditions on your premises licence to see whether there are any hours or operational restrictions on the use of your outside areas. These may prove to be a road black to even the best laid plans.
Have dreams of putting a pop-up bar outside to increase points of sale? A great idea which again could be derailed if your beer garden isn’t included in your licensed area or a licence condition prevents sale outside.
TENs can be issued to temporarily overcome these restrictions and disapply any conditions where necessary.
Be a good neighbour
Football fans can be noisy, many of the matches will start and finish late. The noise created by customers entering and leaving, the later than normal use of a beer, and, (hopefully) the sounds of home nations fans cheering goals and victories could upset local residents.
It is always better to avoid issues happening rather than react to complaints. Consider creating a noise management and dispersal plan to help mitigate potential risk factors.
Let your local residents know about your plans to open later and perhaps even offer free tickets to those you feel may be most impacted by you opening late. Remember they are going to be your neighbours long after the football ends!
Door staff and plastic glasses
Have a look at your premises licence to check for conditions which require door staff or polycarbonate glassware / plastic bottles.
Even if there is no such absolute requirement then it is sensible to conduct your own risk assessment to establish whether or not you should use door staff and, indeed, how many, and whether you should use polycarbonate glassware and plastic bottles.
Make sure any risk assessment is documented and kept on site to show the Police that you have thought about these issues, and taken any appropriate steps to address the risks identified within the risk assessment.
Final thoughts
To maximise the potential of the World Cup you are highly likely to need TENs. Speak to your local police licensing officer about your plans to open. Issue all of the TENs you may possibly need.
You only get 15 TENs per year covering a total of 21 days so withdraw all the ones that ultimately prove to be unnecessary for use later in 2026.
Football fans are (mostly) good natured and well-behaved. Sadly however, there are times this isn’t true.
As you risk assess games for things like door staff and polycarbonates factor in the time of day and stage of the tournament which could fuel potential disorder when our beloved nations (undeservedly) lose on penalties!
