World Cup north-south divide for pubs as southern councils say they will take no action towards boozers serving early for Lionesses final but northern authorities do not follow suit
- Councils have told pub landlords they can serve alcohol before the 11am kick off
- Cornwall led the charge, stating that ‘no enforcement action’ would take place
Pubs up and down the country will be full to the brim tomorrow as the nation prepares to cheer on the Lionesses.
But Northerners may discover themselves forced to toast the team with a soft drink, as it appears that no councils in the North of England have promised to ‘turn a blind eye’ towards pubs serving alcohol early.
In an apparent North-South divide, a handful of councils in the South of the country had by this afternoon taken the brave step of telling landlords they would not be punished for serving alcohol before tomorrow’s 11am kick off.
Cornwall led the charge on Friday by stating that ‘no enforcement action’ would be taken by police towards pubs opening at 10am, with Buckinghamshire, Southend, Wandsworth, Richmond and other southern councils soon following suit.
While Medway in Kent today promised that boozers could serve alcohol from 10am ‘if they are showing the match’, seemingly no northern councils have done the same.
Councils have told pub landlords they can serve alcohol before the 11am kick off tomorrow (Pictured: Lionesses training ahead of the big match)
READ MORE: Prince William apologises for not attending World Cup final to cheer on the Lionesses in video message with Charlotte
Prince William has apologised for not attending the Women’s World Cup final to cheer on the Lionesses in video message with Charlotte
Last night, North-West Labour MP Graham Stringer urged licensing authorities to make sure Northern fans could raise a glass to the Lionesses.
Mr Stringer told The Mail on Sunday: ‘We don’t want a North-Side divide over something that should bring the whole nation together.
‘People in the North-West will be cheering the England team along just like the rest of the country.’
Mr Stringer, who represents Blackley and Broughton in Greater Manchester, added: ‘It’d be a shame if some pubs couldn’t open in time for the match.
‘I’d encourage the licensing authorities to do all they can to make sure fans have a drink in their hand.’
Leeds City Council came the closest in the north by allowing venues to open early, but clearly stated that they could only serve alcohol ‘in accordance with their licenses’.
Each pub is subject to the conditions of their individual licenses, which regulate when landlords are allowed to begin serving alcohol.
Sunday serving hours mean many pubs will be unable to serve alcohol until after halftime in the Lionesses’ showdown against Spain.
Venues can apply for a temporary event notice but this usually takes five working days.
Michael Gove this week urged councils ‘to do everything they can to help pubs get open earlier’ – which prompted some councils to publicly promise that they will turn a blind eye to pubs serving alcohol before their license allows.
Kate Nicholls OBE, the CEO of UKHospitality, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘For many pubs it is their business and livelihood at stake and they need that reassurance from their local council that they won’t be punished for wanting to open their doors early and allow everyone to celebrate.
Cornwall led the charge, stating that ‘no enforcement action’ would take place (Pictured: Fans watching the Australia versus England Women’s World Cup earlier this week)
While Medway in Kent today promised that boozers could serve alcohol from 10am ‘if they are showing the match’ (Pictured: Fans cheering during the match earlier this week)
‘I am continuing to urge all councils, even at this eleventh hour, to take the sensible and pragmatic approach for such a momentous occasion.’
Emma McClarkin OBE, the CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: ‘The decision by Cornwall Council to permit all pubs in their county to serve drinks from 10am before kick off this Sunday is exactly the type of flexibility that councils can provide and what the Government so helpfully encouraged.
‘Football fans and communities want to come together in their local pubs to roar the Lionesses to a historic victory and we hope other councils across the country follow Cornwall’s example.’
Conservative MP Sir Michael Fabricant has suggested his local police force should ‘turn a blind eye’ to any pubs opening early for Sunday’s World Cup final.
In a letter to Staffordshire Police Chief Constable Chris Noble and Staffordshire police and fire commissioner Ben Adams, the Lichfield MP wrote: ‘I think it would be a marvellous gesture if pubs could be allowed to open early and, although this would be contrary to the law, the police might turn a blind eye on this one occasion only.’
Source: Read Full Article
