The Government has confirmed that pubs will be permitted to remain open until 2am during the World Cup. This means football fans can savour their pints while watching the matches into the early hours, especially if England progress to the later stages of the tournament.

This decision is part of a broader support package for pubs announced on Tuesday. Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson informed the Commons that pubs will receive a 15 per cent discount on their business rates bills from April, and property tax bills in England will be “frozen in real terms” for the subsequent two years.

He estimated that this assistance would amount to an average saving of £1,650 for each pub next year.

The support measures will also extend to live music venues. Furthermore, Tomlinson said that licensed venues could operate until 1am or 2am during the summer to broadcast games featuring UK teams in the men’s football World Cup.

He declared: “We will legislate to increase the number of temporary events notices for pubs and other hospitality venues, whether that is to help them screen World Cup games or other community and cultural events.”

The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with hosting duties shared among 16 cities – 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.

The Commons was also informed that the Government intends to launch a consultation on relaxing planning regulations to support pubs, potentially allowing them to add guest accommodation or expand their premises without needing to submit planning applications.

“We will also continue to engage with the sector to ensure that other retail, leisure and hospitality premises have flexibility,” Mr Tomlinson said.

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The Treasury’s move follows fierce criticism from business leaders and MPs regarding forthcoming tax rises. During the budget announcement, the Treasury unveiled amendments to business rates, which introduced a reduced multiplier for calculating the commercial property levy.

Nevertheless, this was substantially counterbalanced by scrapping a Covid-era 40 per cent discount on business rates bills for hospitality, leisure and retail establishments, alongside fresh property valuations. Trade organisations had cautioned that English pubs are facing a 76 per cent, or £7,000, surge in their business rates bills over the coming three years as a consequence.

Reacting to the Treasury’s announcement of additional support for English pubs regarding business rates, Ash Corbett-Collins, Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Chairman (above) described the temporary relief for pubs as “short term” and “short-sighted”.

Regarding modifications to licensing hours and the easing of planning regulations, Corbett-Collins said: “Letting pubs stay open for longer or extending their premises is not going to solve the fundamental problem where otherwise viable businesses face being taxed out of existence.

“Licensees are already limiting their opening hours and can’t afford to invest in their buildings. The Government should fundamentally review the tax burden on pubs and independent breweries from things like VAT and alcohol duty to see if those systems can be made fairer, to give our locals a fighting chance against cheap supermarket alcohol.”