Pubs apply to open until 5am during World Cup

Several York pubs have applied to stay open until 05:00 BST during the World Cup, which is being held in North America.

The venues could remain open into the early hours to show matches during the tournament, which starts on Thursday.

The government has already relaxed licensing rules so pubs and bars can stay open until 02:00 without applying for permission if England or Scotland are playing in a quarter-final, semi-final or the final.

City of York Council culture spokesperson Pete Kilbane said: "York loves its football, so the question is whether England can show the same fighting spirit as York City and go all the way at this World Cup."

He added: "If you can't make it to New York this summer, then the original York is a pretty good place to watch from."

The World Cup is being hosted by Canada, Mexico and the US, and the time differences mean many of the fixtures will be broadcast late in the evening or during the night.

Under the government extension, pubs and bars can open beyond their closing times to show some home nations games without applying for Temporary Event Notices (TENs).

Venues can stay open until 01:00 for any quarter-final, semi-final or final if it starts before or at 21:00 UK time and a home nation is playing. They can stay open until 02:00 if any of those fixtures starts at 22:00.

However, venues screening matches starting after 22:00, or those involving other teams, would still need a TEN.

Several York pubs and bars have applied to stay open later, including the Cross Keys on Goodramgate, The Harry Hotspur on Micklegate, and Slug and Lettuce on Low Ousegate.

North Yorkshire Police and the council asked venues showing World Cup matches to introduce measures including door staff, plastic glasses and limits on the number of people allowed in.

Pubs and bars have also been asked to be aware of matches that take place on the same days as York races and plan accordingly, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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