Law U-turn for Mexico match 'massive' for industry

A pub boss has described the government's decision to allow bars to stay open until 05:00 BST on Monday to show England's World Cup match against Mexico as "absolutely massive" for the industry.

The last-16 match kicks off at 01:00 UK time, and the government U-turn follows vocal lobbying from MPs and the hospitality sector.

Adam Cook, operations manager at The Wharf Tavern, told the BBC earlier in the week that his licence application had been turned down by Solihull Council.

"The good news came yesterday that Keir Starmer changed his mind on it - it's absolutely welcome news for the pub trade," Cook said.

He said he expected a significant increase in sales as a result.

"It's great for our communities as well, to go to their local pub and watch England play, which we've done for years, and it was crazy we weren't being allowed to do that," Cook said.

"It's absolutely massive - I think we can easily triple, if not quadruple sales, which pubs desperately need right now.

"With high business rates and higher VAT compared to a lot of the places, it's absolutely massive for us."

On Wednesday, Solihull Council said the licence had originally been refused because the pub applied outside the specific working days condition required and there was "absolutely no wriggle room" under the law as it stood.

However, on Thursday evening, Sir Keir Starmer announced the U-turn, saying it was good news for both supporters and pubs.

Saqib Batty, MP for Meriden, had been among those urging the prime minister to change the law for the match.

"Licensing always plays an important role but this is a really exceptional circumstance, this is clearly a tough World Cup," he said.

"Our lads are going to be fighting really hard. They need to know that the whole country is behind them."

Confirming the change the prime minister said pubs would be permitted to remain open until 05:00 on the night of the match, which is not expected to finish until at least 03:00.

Licensing laws had already been relaxed to allow pubs to stay open until 01:00 for England knockout matches kicking off between 17:00 and 21:00, and until 02:00 for those between 21:00 and 22:00.

However, this did not cover 01:00 kick-offs, leaving pubs like The Wharf Tavern unable to secure permission in time under the original rules.

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