Coverage of pubs staying open to show England’s next World Cup match

There has been widespread national and regional coverage of the government extending licensing hours until 5am to allow football fans to watch England’s match against Mexico down the pub.

The Guardian (p1 & 16, Helena Horton and Peter Walker), The Independent (p7, Kevin Devlin), The Telegraph (p5, Tom Morgan, Tony Diver, Robert Mendick and Genevieve Holl-Allen) The I Paper (p10-11, Will Hazell), BBC News (Oliver Smith, Emer Moreau and Paddy Evans), The Mirror (online, Lizzy Buchanan) and The Sun (p2-3, Jack Elsom), lead their reports with the government using Home Office powers to extend licensing hours until 5am nationwide for the match, with mentions of the Secretary of State Steve Reed having called on councils to encourage them to approve applications to stay open later. The Financial Times (George Parker, Ashley Armstrong, Stephanie Stacey), Metro (p1 splash & p3, Luke Alsford) also cover the announcement positively.

The Times (p1, Ben Clatworthy, Andy Silvester) leads with Steve Reed’s comments that the changes would allow fans to cheer on England with a pint. The piece also carries positive comments from hospitality representatives, but notes that Transport for London will not be extending its night tube services for the game.

The Secretary of State took part in a pooled clip yesterday to celebrate the changes, with coverage of this and his letter to council leaders attracting national and regional coverage.

There has been coverage on Sky News’ The News Hour with Mark Austin, talkSPORT Radio’s news section, Times Radio, GB News, LBC News, across a dozen outlets in the Greatest Hits Network including in Manchester, West Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, Liverpool and the North West, and on Hits Radio titles in the Black Country and Shropshire, and Staffordshire.

There has been further coverage on Radio X, Capital Xtra, Magic Tyne & Wear, Free Radio Birmingham, Academy FM Thanet, and other regional titles yesterday. The coverage has extended into Friday, being referenced on Good Morning Britain, LBC and across 10 regional BBC radio outlets including in the West Midlands, Sheffield, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Norfolk and Cumbria.

More information on the announcement can be found here: Pubs to stay open for Sunday night's England v Mexico World Cup match - GOV.UK