Policy for FIFA World Cup Extended Hours

The Board has decided there will be no general ('blanket') extension of hours across North Ayrshire. Where later opening is sought, it will be considered through individual applications. For premises licence holders, this will be by Extended Hours Application. Although the original report focused on Scotland's matches, this approach can be used for any FIFA World Cup 2026 fixture.

1. Key details

• Application deadline for all fixtures, including knockout phase games is 31 March 2026. Applications received after this date may still be accepted, however the council cannot guarantee they will be processed in time for the relevant fixture.
• It is for Premises Licence Holder's to review the full list of applicable fixtures (list provided by the Licensing Board) and identify and apply (by 31 March 2026) for all matches, including the knockout phase matches, that they wish to screen which occur, or could continue, beyond their standard licenced hours.
• Terminal hour if granted is 30 minutes after the final whistle of the relevant fixture (as set by the Licensing Board).
• Standard conditions approved by the Licensing Board for World Cup fixtures will apply in addition to your existing premises licence conditions.
• Admissions restriction - no person shall be admitted or re-admitted to the premises after one hour prior to the kick-off time of the relevant match.
• Operating plan/core licenced hours - extended hours only extends your licenced hours. If you intend to screen matches, your operating plan must already authorise the relevant activity (for example, television/televised sport/film or video exhibitions/indoor sporting events). If it does not, please contact the Licensing Team as early as possible for advice.
• Fee/multiple matches on one date - the extended hours fee is £10 per application date. If more than one fixture falls within the same relevant date/trading period, you should apply for the latest fixture on that date, which will cover any earlier fixtures within that same period.

2. How to apply

If you require later opening to screen a fixture, please submit an Extended Hours Application via Extension of Licensing Hours. The attached guidance note includes screenshots and tips on completing the form.

To avoid delay, please make sure your application includes the required information. Incomplete or insufficient applications may be returned or rejected as invalid/incomplete, which may affect whether they can be processed in time.

In particular, please ensure:

1. An email address is provided (licences will be issued by email).
2. The premises licence number is provided (not the personal licence number).
3. The relevant game reference is included (as shown on the fixture list below).
4. The correct 'relevant date when applying' is used (the fixture list below explains how early morning kick-offs are treated for licensing purposes).

If you have any questions, or want to discuss your plans before submitting an application, please contact the Licensing Team at licensing@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.

3. Standard conditions for FIFA World Cup 2026

These additional standard conditions apply to any Extended Hours application granted under the North Ayrshire Licensing Board's FIFA World Cup 2026 approach and they apply in addition to the premises' existing premises licence conditions.

3.1 Conditions

• Children and young persons - Children and young persons shall not be admitted to the premises/venue during any period of later opening connected with any of the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches.
• Purpose and scope - Later opening is authorised solely for the purpose of screening the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches and associated customer management and dispersal. The premises/organiser shall ensure that the event is conducted in a manner consistent with the licensing objectives, including the prevention of crime and disorder, securing public safety, preventing public nuisance and protecting and improving public health.
• Authorisation to screen - For premises licence holders, the premises shall only operate later for match screening where the premises is authorised within its operating plan to provide televised sport/television (or where an appropriate variation has been granted).
• Management and supervision - A designated manager/event lead shall be on duty from 10pm until close and shall be responsible for compliance with these conditions and for liaison with Police Scotland, the Licensing Standards Officer and licensing officers where required. Prior to the commencement of each event night, staff shall be briefed on admission controls, capacity management, noise control and dispersal arrangements, and incident escalation procedures. A personal licence holder shall be present on the premises from 10pm until close. The premises/organiser shall ensure that the sufficient staff are on duty to manage the premises/venue safely, having regard to the expected attendance, capacity and terminal hour.
• Admission and re-admission - No person shall be admitted to the premises after one hour prior to the kick-off time of the relevant match. No person shall be re-admitted to the premises after one hour prior to the kick-off time of the relevant match. Any external smoking/vaping area shall be supervised and managed to prevent nuisance, disorder and obstruction. The premises/organiser shall ensure that patrons waiting to gain entry are managed so as to avoid public nuisance, disorder or obstruction, including at the frontage and in any nearby public areas.
• Capacity and queue management - The premises/organiser shall ensure that the permitted capacity is not exceeded at any time and shall deploy sufficient staff to monitor and control occupancy throughout. Where high attendance is anticipated, the premises/organiser shall implement controlled admission and queue management measures to prevent obstruction, disorder and nuisance at the frontage. The premises/organiser shall ensure that any temporary arrangements associated with the screening (including seating, barriers and queuing systems) do not compromise safe means of escape. No alcohol shall be sold or supplied for consumption off the premises during any period of later opening connected with the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. The premises/organiser shall operate a refusals policy and shall record refusals of alcohol or any incidents arising.
• Safety, security and welfare - Door supervision shall be provided from 11pm until close where required by risk assessment having regard to the nature, location and capacity of the premises/venue, anticipated attendance and the terminal hour sought, and shall be increased where Police Scotland advise that such measures are necessary to support the licensing objectives. A person trained in first aid shall be present on the premises/at the event from 11pm until close. An incident/refusals record shall be maintained for each event night and shall be produced to Police Scotland and/or Licensing Standards on request. The premises/organiser shall operate a zero tolerance approach to drugs and weapons, with staff instructed to contact Police Scotland where appropriate. The premises/organiser shall take reasonable steps to prevent the consumption or possession of illegal drugs on the premises/at the event and shall cooperate with Police Scotland in any enforcement action.
• Noise control and prevention of public nuisance - Doors and windows shall be managed to minimise noise breakout after 10pm, particularly during/after the match and during dispersal. External areas (including smoking/vaping areas) shall be actively monitored and managed to prevent nuisance and disorder. Patrons shall not be permitted to congregate out with the premises in a manner likely to cause nuisance. No amplified music or commentary shall be played in any external areas during the period of later opening. The premises/organiser shall ensure that any noise-generating activities associated with the screening (including chanting or announcements) are managed so as to minimise disturbance to nearby residents.
• Dispersal - A written dispersal plan shall be in place for each event night where later opening is authorised. The plan shall cover staffing at exits at closing, management of external areas and frontage, and steps to minimise noise and disorder in the vicinity. The premises/organiser shall actively manage dispersal at the end of the event/closing time by deploying staff (and door staff where engaged) at exits and the immediate frontage to encourage prompt and quiet departure and to prevent patrons lingering. Clear closing/dispersal announcements shall be made in advance of closing to support orderly winding down and departure. Prominent notices shall be displayed at exits requesting patrons leave quietly and respect neighbours. The premises/organiser shall take reasonable steps to prevent patrons congregating outside the premises after closing and shall manage taxi pick-up arrangements (where possible) to minimise noise and disturbance. Where appropriate, the premises/organiser shall liaise with Police Scotland and the Licensing Standards Officer in advance of event nights on expected attendance, customer management and dispersal arrangements.
• Glass/receptacles after 1am - Where the premises/venue operates after 1am, the premises/organiser shall adopt a no-glass approach from 1am until close (plastic or toughened receptacles only), unless an alternative approach is expressly authorised as part of the grant.
• CCTV - Where CCTV is installed, it shall be kept in good working order and recordings shall be retained and made available to Police Scotland on request, in accordance with the premises' existing CCTV arrangements.
• Compliance - The premises/organiser shall comply with any instructions given by Police Scotland, the Licensing Standards Officer or authorised officers of the council in relation to public safety, prevention of nuisance, and orderly dispersal during event nights.

4. Extended Hours Fixtures

This list is provided to help premises licence holders within North Ayrshire apply for Extended Hours in connection with FIFA World Cup 2026 fixtures.

Due to UK kick-off times, some matches fall in the early hours of the morning. For licensing purposes, an Extended Hours Application should be made for the end of the current period of licensed hours (for instance, the trading period being extended), not simply the calendar date of kick-off. For example, although Scotland's opening game versus Haiti is technically on Sunday at 2am, this would be treated as an extension of hours to a premises' Saturday opening hours. Therefore, the application would be for an extension to your hours on Saturday 13 June.

If you are applying for more than one game on one date, you should apply for the latest game which will cover earlier fixtures on the same relevant date/trading period and a single £10.00 fee will be due for that specific date.

Please state within your application the game reference for the game(s) you wish to apply for.