London pubs will be able to stay open until 2am during this summer's football World Cup as the capital’s bars continue to struggle with rising costs and noise complaints.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has agreed to extend opening hours if any of the home nations make it to the knockout stages of the tournament, which is being hosted jointly by the US, Canada and Mexico.
Pubs will also be able to apply for a temporary licence for any very late kick-offs that could finish beyond 2am, given the time difference between the US and America.
“With later kick-offs at this year's World Cup, we don't want pubs to blow the final whistle before the winning goal,” Ms Mahmood said.
“So we're showing red tape the red card and taking pub hours to extra time so fans can get another round in without missing a single kick.
“We're toasting our boys at the World Cup and our locals this summer. Fans won't need to go home, before football's come home.”
The Home Secretary is reported to have previously been considering only allowing pubs to open later if one of the home nations reached the quarter-finals of the tournament.
But she has agreed to extend opening hours until 1am for most knockout games and 2am for those kicking off at 10pm.
The British Beer and Pub Association described the move as "a win for pubs, jobs and community spirit".
England and Scotland have already qualified for the tournament, which begins on June 11, while either Wales or Northern Ireland could still join them via the playoffs.
It comes as pubs in the capital continue to face increasing noise complaints from neighbours and rising taxes, wages and alcohol duty costs.
On Thursday, the Globe, off Baker Street, will be hauled before Westminster council for a third time after one man reported customers “loitering” on the street outside the bar and making noise after midnight on weekends.
The pub, owned by Greene King, was previously the subject of a licensing review called by Michael Zelouf in 2022 and then again in November 2024.
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan is set to be given a key role in licensing the capital’s late-night economy.
The Government announced last year that it wanted Sir Sadiq Khan to have the final say on whether venues could stay open.
The aim was to address concerns that the hospitality and entertainment industries were struggling to survive because of onerous “red tape” regulations imposed by borough councils responding to complaints from residents.
Sir Sadiq has now launched a six-week consultation setting out more details of how he could use the new powers, which are expected to come into force this summer.
