Edinburgh pubs allowed to open late for World Cup games

Edinburgh pubs and other venues will be allowed to stay open until early morning to host World Cup matches, after a decision by the city’s licensing board.

The general hours extension covers all World Cup games, not just Scotland games, and allows a venue to remain open for 30 minutes after a match ends.

This means some matches which have a 5am kickoff UK time could see venues stay open past 7am.

Venues will be expected to notify the council about their intention to stay open late through a not-yet-established process.

They will also be encouraged to be mindful of their own security, stewarding and ticketing requirements.

Board convener and Liberal Democrat councillor Louise Young said it would monitor conditions through the event, and that it holds the right to amend the extension as it sees fit.

Venues will need to have a permanent premises licence, serve alcohol and have the showing of live television included in their operating plan in order to take advantage of the extension.

Green councillor Chas Booth objected to the extension of hours overall once a plan had been assembled by the board, citing concerns about domestic violence among other issues.

Through the discussion of the World Cup at the board meeting, councillors voted on individual elements to craft a draft plan, before voting for the plan as a whole.

Police Scotland had originally submitted a set of conditions they would like to see included with the general extension to opening hours.

But a lawyer for the council told councillors that conditions added to a general extension to licensing hours may not be legally enforceable.

Cllr Young wanted to see the extension apply to all games, saying: “I have a real concern that we put a message out there to our residents that only the games for our country are important, and if you’re from another country you won’t be able to enjoy that atmosphere.”

Cllr Booth questioned the position, referencing earlier concerns raised by police sergeant Grant Robertson about the risk of public disorder after it was found that conditions may not be legally enforceable.

SNP councillor David Key asked if the general extension to hours could be stopped ‘with ease’, or if it would be a more involved process.

Council lawyer Gerry Mays said that the council would have the right to amend the general extension if it proved to lead to public disorder at any point in the contest.

Cllr Booth supported only Scotland games being allowed the extension of hours, but the rest of the board supported a position by Cllr Young to extend it to all games.

Councillors then discussed the geographical area that the late hours extension would cover.

Sgt Robertson had earlier backed only allowing late hours premises in the city centre, but noted that Police Scotland’s contribution was only a representation.

Cllr Young said: “I don’t want to penalise community pubs by having all your regular customers having to go into the city centre to go watch the games.

“This is an opportunity for community spirit, and I would want to respect that.”

The board voted to back her position of allowing venues across the capital to hold matches.

After this, they discussed which types of venues would be allowed to hold events, with the general position of councillors being that all venues be able to host events.

Labour councillor Cammy Day backed all venues hosting matches, saying: “Not everybody is going out to get drunk, they’re going out to watch a football match and maybe have a couple beers, or whatever they drink.”

Cllr Young added: “We would expect premises to consider suitable stewarding if appropriate, and also ensure suitable management arrangements are in place.”

She continued to say that she would be opposed to limiting permission to host showings late to late night venues, which would effectively limit the extension to nightclubs.

She said: I just feel like we’re restricting unfairly what might be some of the most popular places for residents.”

In response to a question by Cllr Day, Cllr Young reiterated that the extension would only be extended to premises with the showing of live television in their operating plan.

Cllr Booth put forward an alternative position, in line with Police Scotland’s stated position, that it should only be available to late-night venues.

But again, councillors sided with Cllr Young’s position to open the extension to any venue – including hotels and restaurants – which meet the television and other conditions.

Councillors also discussed whether to establish a registration system for venues taking advantage of the late hours extension.

Councillors supported this, but after a question from Cllr Booth, Mr Mays said the council could not require that venues register their intent to use the extension.

As such, councillors agreed to encourage venues to register their intent to use the extension, likely through the council’s Consultation Hub.

They then moved on to deciding how long after the games venues would be allowed to stay open.

Councillors voted to support the model the council uses for the Super Bowl, where bars and pubs hosting games are allowed to stay open for 30 minutes after the game ends.

Cllr Young said this would allow the extension to adapt to any delays in any individual game, with her position supported by the board.

Cllr Booth did not put forward an alternative position, but said: “I just think we’re creating problems for ourselves here.”

Finally, councillors came to vote on the full package of decisions that had come together to make up the draft plan.

Cllr Booth proposed a position of rejecting the draft plan, citing concerns over domestic violence and risks to public order.

He cited a report in a consultation carried out before the meeting, which found football and alcohol consumption can aggravate domestic violence.

He added: “What is before us today is to grant a blanket extension with no requirement for the police to consult … it’s absolute madness.”

Cllr Young replied: “I hear loud and clear your concerns over violence. I don’t think it’s always linked to where people have gone to a licensed presence.

“Having alcohol consumption in a licensed premise [can be] better than people taking alcohol home to watch the games there.”

She added that Cllr Booth was ‘right’ to call it out, and that it drove home the importance of getting licensing plans for the World Cup right.

Councillors sided with Cllr Young in approving the plan, with Cllr Booth unable to find a seconder for his opposition.