PUBS across the UK are permitted to remain open until 1 am today, as fans eagerly anticipate England’s clash with Spain in the Euros final.
This two-hour extension has been granted under a special licensing agreement approved by the former Conservative government.
The Home Office, which has the authority to relax licensing hours for events of exceptional national significance, made the decision.
Similar extensions have been granted previously for royal weddings, the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016, the FIFA World Cup in 2014, and the last Euros final in 2022.
The nation is still buoyant following The Three Lions’ victory against the Netherlands in the semi-final last Wednesday.
However, the pressure is now on Gareth Southgate‘s team to secure England’s first major cup final win in nearly 60 years.
If you’re planning to head to your local pub this evening to watch the game, you might be wondering if it will stay open later than usual.
The Sun contacted major pub chains to find out their Sunday opening hours. 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 would be operating until its usual closing time of midnight.
Spoons run over 800 pubs across the UK, and the vast majority will be showing the game.
You can find your nearest location by visiting www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs.
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:
WITH millions expected to tune in for the match, many will likely wake up with hangovers and might consider calling in sick.
But what are the consequences if you do the same?
Following previous games, many hungover fans have sought reasons to skip work.
However, your boss might be sceptical if you call in sick right after such a major event, especially if many others do the same.
If your employer discovers that you lied, you could face severe consequences, including potential dismissal, depending on the situation.
A representative from workplace lawyers, Doyle Clayton, said: “Employees who falsely claim to be sick on Monday to celebrate can be guilty of misconduct.
“Their manager might also lose trust in them, and the employer could take disciplinary action, including possible dismissal.”
The law firm suggests that booking a day’s holiday is a safer option to avoid jeopardizing your job.
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 to 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.
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, the franchisee decides whether or not 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 pubs 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 www.fullers.co.uk/pubs/pub-finder/london.
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 that opening hours across its 16 brands would vary 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 sites, such as O’Neill’s, Nicholson’s, and Sizzling sites, will show the football, while others won’t.
You can find your local restaurant or pub’s opening hours by visiting www.mbplc.com/find-a-pub.
A number of grocers have also said they are changing their opening hours on Sunday or Monday to give staff time off.
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.
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