By Andy Marston, Sports Pundit
The UK government is proposing to extend pub opening hours to 1am if England or Wales make it to the semi-finals or final of this summer’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2025.
The Home Office will hold a four-week consultation on the proposal, which aims to boost hospitality and bring fans together during key matches.
The plan mirrors similar steps taken during last summer’s men’s Euros, where pub sales tripled during the final.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper can approve the extension under powers reserved for events of “exceptional national significance.”
Why It Matters:
Women’s football has often struggled with discoverability, especially in public spaces like pubs, where matches are harder to find on screen compared to the men’s game.
88% of football fans still watch women’s matches at home, but the same percentage have expressed interest in attending communal watch-alongs.
The opportunity is clear: fans want shared experiences, and hospitality venues are well-positioned to deliver them.
As such, this move isn’t just a gesture, it’s a step toward normalising women's football as a mainstream sporting event worth gathering for. It also signals to pub owners and bar managers that investing in women’s sport coverage can generate significant footfall and revenue.
As specialist bars like The Sports Bra in Oregon and A Bar of Their Own in Minneapolis grow in popularity, broader adoption by mainstream venues is crucial for the next phase of fandom.
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