Hundreds of UK pubs to open until 5am for England's last-16 clash against Mexico

Hundreds of pubs across the United Kingdom will remain open until 5am on Monday morning after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer extended licensing hours for England’s World Cup last-16 tie against Mexico, which kicks off at 1am UK time at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

Starmer removed the requirement for individual venues to apply for special council permissions or Temporary Event Notices, cutting through local bureaucratic red tape and giving hundreds of pubs the green light to trade into the small hours. Police chiefs are scrambling to respond to the last-minute announcement as they prepare for the challenges a late-night crowd brings.

Of the major chains, Greene King leads the way with around 600 of its 2,600 venues confirmed to be opening. Fuller, Smith & Turner and a range of independent pubs have also committed to staying open, alongside selected venues from chains including Boxpark and Young’s. Wetherspoon, however, is opening just five of its 800 pubs: Bishops Mill in Durham, Cooper Rose in Sunderland, William Rufus in Carlisle, Penderel’s Oak in Holborn, and Solomon Cutler in Birmingham.

Thomas Tuchel’s England side face their toughest assignment of the tournament so far against a Mexico team that has been flawless in the group stage. A place in the quarter-finals is at stake.

Greene King’s confirmed venues span the country, from the Abington in Northampton and the Actress in East Dulwich to the Arrowe Park on the Wirral and the Assembly House in Kentish Town, among hundreds of others. Fans are advised to check with their local pub directly before travelling, as the full list of participating independent venues continues to grow ahead of kick-off.