Edinburgh’s licensed venues are to benefit from a city-wide licensing hours extension for this summer’s football World Cup.
Reporting live from a crucial meeting of the Edinburgh Licensing Board, Stephen McGowan, partner and head of licensing (Scotland) at TLT LLP, broke the news on his own social media ahead of the board’s formal announcement.
Channelling his inner sports commentator, McGowan said: “I confirm that after a hot 90 minutes of debate with some extra time and some tasty challenges, the Edinburgh Board has decided to essentially follow Glasgow and approve a city wide extension for all on sales premises with televised sport in their operating plan to trade up till 30 mins after conclusion for all matches in the World Cup – not just Scotland.
“There were displays of dissent throughout the debate on various aspects from Cllr Chas Booth, but in the result all his counter motions fell, as he had no support, and all other board members approved the policy in full.”
There are other boards yet to issue a decision on World Cup licensing hours, and McGowan added that TLT LLP guidance note on the matter which will be updated in due course.
