Many pubs to stay shut despite 5am licence for England v Mexico | OneFootball

Many pubs are set to stay shut for England’s World Cup tie with Mexico, which kicks off at 1am on Monday, despite a blanket licence allowing trading until 5am.

Sir Keir Starmer announced on Thursday that venues in England and Wales can open late for the last-16 game, after MPs urged leeway beyond the existing 2am limit. The extension applies nationally, so pubs do not need to apply individually.

Even so, staffing pressures and residential locations mean some landlords will not open. Only five of the 800 Wetherspoon pubs will trade for the match, while Greene King said more than 600 across England will stay open late to show it.

Tommy Higgs, co-owner of The Three Horseshoes in Witney, Oxfordshire, said: “We’re in a built-up community around here, and I think it’s just a little bit disrespectful for our locals to have that sort of noise at 5am.” He told LBC. “No one’s going to want to work until five in the morning.”

He added: “We’re not a nightclub, we’re a local pub in a small town, and I am not allowed to annoy my neighbours because I’ll be into holy hell with that.”

Greene King’s Andrew Gallagher welcomed the late opening and said the pub atmosphere gives supporters the chance to come together, urging guests to secure spots early. Industry body BBPA says UK pub numbers fell from 46,829 in 2020 to 44,656 in 2025. England face Mexico in the last 16 after beating the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 on Wednesday.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com