Eight pubs in Northampton have been granted extensions allowing them to serve alcohol during England's World Cup matches.
The Picturedrome in the centre of the town and seven Northampton pubs belonging to the McManus Pub Company, are to be allowed to open early and serve alcohol on three occasions during the tournament.
The first is on Sunday, June 2, when the pubs will be allowed to serve from 10.30am for England's opening match against Sweden. During England's game against Nigeria on Wednesday, June 12, they will be allowed to serve alcohol from 7.30am and during the World Cup Final on Sunday June 30 the pubs will serve from 11am.
The Magistrates' Association had issued guidance to licensing benches, advising them to turn down applications for exemptions because, based on case law from the 1978 World Cup, watching football matches is not considered participatory and therefore not a special occasion.
At the hearing in front of Northampton magistrates, barrister and licensing consultant Alan Thompson, who represented the pubs, spoke for some time about the issue.
"I convinced them that times have changed since 1978," he said. "A majority of people can't afford to go to Japan and South Korea for the games and with the fanatical support England matches generate it would be naïve for magistrates to consider them non-participatory."
While Mr Thompson agreed the ruling would probably affect other applications in Northampton, he said he was not sure whether other licensing benches would be convinced.
Yesterday, (Thursday, February 28) magistrates in Bristol turned down an application for extended hours by licensee Martin Gough of the White Hart in Brislington.
His case, supported by pub owners Scottish & Newcastle and the British Beer and Pub Association, will be appealed at the High Court within in the next three weeks.
Have you applied for an extension to your license to show World Cup matches in your pub? ThePublican.com, in conjunction with the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), would like to know your progress so far. Get involved and make a difference - please contact news reporter Kerry Rogan at kerryr@thepublican.com, or call her on 020 8565 4460.
Related stories:
Pubs will fight to open early and serve alcohol for World Cup (28 February 2002)
Extensions for World Cup fail (14 February 2002)
Publican's bid to open early for World Cup looks bleak (7 February 2002)
World Cup opening hours face objections from police (15 November 2001)
World Cup opening is still in balance (8 November 2001)
Pubs given nod to sell alcohol from 6am for World Cup matches (2 November 2001)
Early kick-off for World Cup means publicans may miss out on money-spinner (14 September 2001)