PUBS across the UK will be allowed to trade until 1 am on Sunday, as fans gear up to watch England take on Spain in the Euros final.
Boozers have been given the two hour extension under the terms of a special licensing agreement which was green light by the previous Conservative government.
The decision comes from the Home Office, which can make an order to relax licensing hours to mark occasions of exceptional national significance.
The government has previously pushed back pub closing times for royal weddings, the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016, the FIFA World Cup in 2014, and the last EURO 2022 final.
The nation is still riding high following The Three Lions win against Netherlands in the semi-final last Wednesday.
But pressure is now on Gareth Southgate‘s boys to win England’s first major cup final in nearly 60 years.
If you are heading down to your local pub this weekend to watch the game, you may be wondering if it is staying open longer than usual.
The Sun asked the major pub chains what their opening hours will be on Sunday. Here’s what they said.
Wetherspoon‘s won’t be extending its hours for the occasion.
However, the pub chain tends to have later trading times than your typical chain.
On the big night, the no-frills hospitality group said its boozers will be operating until its usual closing time of midnight.
Spoons runs over 800 pubs across the UK, and the vast majority will be showing the game.
You can find your nearest location by visiting the company’s website.
You can use the tool to get in touch with your nearest one to see whether it is showing the game and how you can book a table.
This is the full list of pubs that don’t have screens and won’t be showing the game:
How long a Greene King pub can stay open for varies from site to site.
For the semi-final, the chain told the people who run its pubs (known as franchisees) that they could extend their opening hours if they wanted.
So it is expected the same will apply for Sunday’s game too.
Greene King has over 3,000 pubs and restaurants across the UK.
You can find your nearest by checking the pub’s website and using the store locator tool.
If you are keen to watch the Euro Final at one of its pubs you can book online to do so.
Fullers told The Sun that now England has progressed to the final pubs may stay open later than usual on a case-by-case basis.
Like Greene King, it is up to the franchisee on whether or not they choose to stay open for longer.
Fullers has over 400 pubs across the UK, with many showing the match this Sunday.
A spokesperson for Fullers told The Sun: “We have encouraged those pubs that are showing the game to make the most of the extended opening hours to help our customers (hopefully) celebrate,”
“The pub is, without doubt, the best place to watch the game, apart from actually being there, and we’re keeping everything crossed for a great night for England and a great night for pubs. It is on a pub by pub basis and tables can be booked in advance.”
You can a table online by visiting the company’s website.
Fullers also has an online app which customers can download and use to order drinks to their table.
It is important to remember you must be 18 and over to purchase alcohol.
The major pub chain, which owns All Bar One and Toby Carvery, said said opening hours would vary across its 16 brands for the semi-final.
For the final, it is worth calling ahead before you head down to one of the company’s sites to avoid disappointment.
Meanwhile, some, like O’Neill’s, Nicholson’s, Sizzling sites, will be showing the football while others won’t.
You should be able to find your local restaurant or pub’s opening hours on its website.
A number of grocers have also said they are shaking up their opening hours on Sunday or Monday to give staff time off as well.
Lidl has confirmed all its England stores will open one hour later on Monday, regardless of the match outcome
Meanwhile, Tesco said it will shut 1,800 Express stores across the country at 7.30pm instead of the usual 10pm or 11pm so employees can watch the game.
Sainsbury’s has confirmed its smaller stores and petrol stations across England will close early on Sunday.
Over a thousand branches will be shutting at the earlier time of 7.30pm instead of 10pm or 11pm.
As the match is being held on a Sunday, most larger stores will already be closed by kick off.
This is because stores in England or Wales over 280 square metres by law can only open for six consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm on Sundays
You can read all about changing opening times here
THE NHS has the below guidelines on how to drink responsibly
To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks:
14 units is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine.
