Julius OkorieStill basking in the euphoria of their semifinal qualification at Euro 2024, England is set to leave pubs open till 1am Wednesday when the Three Lions face Netherlands.
England will face the Netherlands at 8pm on Wednesday in a bid to reach the final for the second successive tournament.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelEngland beat Switzerland on penalties on Saturday following a 1-1 draw after extra time to set up a semifinal clash with Netherlands. The extension of pubs closing time is promise kept.
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Former Tory Home Secretary, James Cleverly, had said in May that licensing hours would be extended if England or Scotland were to reach the tournament’s semifinals.
Most pubs close by 11pm but ministers can choose to relax licensing hours to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”.
Mr Cleverly said in May the move will “allow friends, families and communities to come together for longer to watch their nation hopefully bring it home”.
On Wednesday, the legislation will be laid in parliament to ensure enough time is provided for it to be debated and passed before the tournament kicks off.
It is hoped the extension will provide a boost to the hospitality industry, which has been hit hard by rising energy prices, the cost of living crisis and inflated food and drinks prices. The final is due to take place on Sunday 14 July.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
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