Pubs can stay open until 5am for England Mexico 1am kickoff
Pubs across England and Wales can stay open until 5am on Monday for England's World Cup last-16 clash with Mexico, after Prime Minister Keir Starmer reversed an earlier government refusal on the england mexico 1am kickoff. The blanket licensing extension means fans can watch the full match without individual venues applying for late licences.
Friday's papers led on what the BBC called a "world cup pubs boost" — and on Catherine, Princess of Wales at Wimbledon. For supporters planning a very late Sunday night, the political U-turn matters as much as the royal photo call.
Key Takeaways
- England face Mexico in the round of 16 at the Estadio Azteca, with kick-off at 1am UK time on Monday 6 July.
- Sir Keir Starmer confirmed pubs in England and Wales may trade until 5am, removing the need for temporary event notices.
- Business minister Kate Dearden had earlier told MPs the 1am start fell outside existing World Cup licensing relaxations.
- Many landlords still plan to stay shut, citing staffing, noise and the fact they are "not a nightclub".
- The Princess of Wales appeared at Wimbledon in a cornflower blue suit as papers splashed "Kate holds court".
Why did Keir Starmer extend pub hours for the Mexico match?
England reached the last 16 after beating the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 on Wednesday, with Harry Kane scoring twice. Their reward is a kick-off timed for 1am British time in Mexico City.
Existing World Cup licensing rules let pubs stay open until 1am for evening kick-offs between 5pm and 9pm, and until 2am for games starting between 9pm and 10pm. Monday's fixture sat outside both windows.
Earlier on Thursday, Kate Dearden told the Commons that pubs could stay open "for an extra two or three hours depending on when the match starts" but added: "Unfortunately that doesn't apply with the 1am start." Liberal Democrat MP Max Wilkinson warned venues would "miss out on a real opportunity to get money in the till" without a blanket extension.
Hours later, Starmer announced the reversal. "Football might be coming home but we're making sure fans don't have to," he said, according to The Guardian. "Pubs staying open till the final whistle is good news for supporters and good news for the pubs and venues that bring our communities together."
Will every pub actually open for the 1am kickoff?
Permission and appetite are not the same thing. The Independent reported that many pubs are expected to remain closed despite the 5am allowance.
Wetherspoon said only five of its 800 pubs would open. Greene King said more than 600 English venues planned late openings in cities including London, Liverpool and Birmingham.
Tommy Higgs, co-owner of The Three Horseshoes in Witney, told LBC his pub would not open. "We're not a nightclub, we're a local pub in a small town," he said, citing neighbour noise and staffing until 5am on a Monday morning.
The match is not expected to finish until at least 3am, and could run closer to 4am if it goes to extra time and penalties — a schedule the Sun summed up by noting fans may "commute straight from the bar to the office".
What else dominated Friday's front pages?
While the Daily Mirror branded the licensing news a "Mexican rave" and the Daily Mail called it "England's big all nighter", several titles also carried Wimbledon pictures of the Princess of Wales.
The Daily Telegraph headlined "Kate holds court at Wimbledon", echoing the Daily Express line that she "smashes it at SW19" in a cornflower blue suit. For more royal crossover moments, see our celebrity breaking news coverage.
Who welcomed the government's pub decision?
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said pubs and fans would be "over the moon" because "the best place to watch the match is down the local." Michael Kill of the Night Time Industries Association called it "fantastic news" for operators.
The change applies only to England and Wales; licensing in Scotland and Northern Ireland is handled separately.