Pubs and clubs in the City will be able to open early for Sunday’s World Cup Final between England and Spain after the Council agreed not to take enforcement action for any venue opening early.
Any venue with a licence to sell alcohol will be able to bring their permitted time forward to 10am on this one special occasion without fear of prosecution.
Cllr Tony Cox, leader of the council, says: “Council's have been asked by the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP to support our local pubs and venues to hold screenings of the Sunday when England will play in a football World Cup Final for the first time since 1966.
“The game kicks off at 11am, and whilst many venues will be able to show the game within their usual opening hours and permitted hours for the sale of alcohol there will be a few who do not have that permission. Whilst there is not sufficient time to request and consider extending hours for opening or sale of alcohol, the Council want to support local venues as suggested by the Government.
Cllr James Courtenay, cabinet member for community safety and public protection, said: “England in a football World Cup Final is an amazing achievement, and we want the local community to unite for the Lionesses. I am therefore delighted we have been able to get this into place and businesses can also benefit from what will be a great occasion. Good luck and lets hope for a win!”
If a venue already has a premises licence for consumption of alcohol on their premises and they open at 10am to serve alcohol, there will be no enforcement action taken by the council, if their licence requires them to open later. All other licence conditions and restrictions remain in place and will be enforced. This includes the hours that sale of alcohol must end and the closing hours on the licence.