More than 50 pubs and bars across North Ayrshire have applied for permission to open into the small hours so fans can watch this summer’s men’s World Cup live from the United States, Canada and Mexico. The move comes after the local licensing board decided in February not to grant a blanket extension for the tournament, instead requiring venues to submit individual applications for late opening.
According to officials, 57 premises have submitted requests covering 336 dates, largely reflecting multiple venues seeking to trade on the same key match nights. Scotland’s group-stage fixtures – against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil – will kick off late at night UK time, with the opener against Haiti in the early hours of 15 June, in what will be the national side’s first appearance at a World Cup finals in 28 years. Licensing chair Eleanor Collier said applications had come in from Irvine “all the way to the northern coast” and suggested there should be a local pub option for most supporters wanting to watch games close to home.
Each application is being assessed on its own merits, with licensing officers and standards staff checking bids against the board’s existing policy framework. A licensing official indicated that 22 applications had already been processed and that, at the current pace, all applicants should receive a decision within three to four weeks, adding that all requests so far comply with policy and no major issues are anticipated. Successful venues will be able to remain open until 30 minutes after the final whistle, mirroring conditions agreed in other parts of Scotland that have adopted temporary World Cup measures.
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North Ayrshire’s case-by-case stance contrasts with neighbouring and comparator areas that have approved general late licences for the tournament, including Glasgow, Dundee, Moray, the Highlands, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian and South Lanarkshire. In those council areas, pubs that already show live sport can typically open until around 30 minutes after matches finish, with conditions aimed at limiting disturbance and ensuring transport home for staff. Nationally, ministers have also backed extended hours during the knockout stages if any of the home nations progress, potentially allowing premises in England and Wales to trade until 2am.
The time difference with North America means Scotland’s fixtures will kick off at 23:00 or 02:00 in the UK, creating both an opportunity and a challenge for the licensed trade. Industry figures have argued that each Scotland game could deliver a multimillion-pound boost to pubs across the country, but have warned that strict licensing regimes risk pushing fans towards unregulated house parties instead of supervised venues. Local boards, including North Ayrshire’s, say they are trying to strike a balance between economic benefits and their duties around public safety, public health and preventing nuisance.
