Pub fears losing £100k in row over England games

A pub landlord fears he will lose £100,000 in takings after his local council blocked him from staying open to screen midweek World Cup matches.

Steve Haslam wanted to show England's group stage fixtures against Croatia and Ghana, which both kick off at 21:00 BST, on 17 and 23 June.

Castle Point Borough Council ruled noise coming from The Bread & Cheese pub, which he owns in Thundersley, Essex, would be too loud for neighbours late at night.

Haslam said he was "absolutely apoplectic" about the decision and would consider shutting the venue if the stance did not change.

He applied for the pub, which backs onto woodland and faces a busy main road, to remain open until 01:00, but was told his noise management plan was inadequate.

"There is no way on the opposite side of the road the decibel readings will be any higher than the background road noise," Haslam insisted.

He said if the council kept its stance throughout the entire tournament, he could miss out on up to £100,000 in earnings.

"We rely on these tournaments every couple of years to put some money in the coffers," Haslam added.

"There is going to be an appeal, there is going to be a reapplication and potentially we will go for a judicial review, so we're not taking it lying down."

Haslam accused the independent-led council of spoiling the fun, adding its decision was "scandalous".

England are among the favourites for the tournament, which is being held across the US, Canada and Mexico and kicks off on 11 June.

Pubs in England and Wales have been told by the government they can stay open late for any home nation knockout match during the World Cup, but not group fixtures.

Castle Point Borough Council said Haslam's pub could remain open until 01:00 for the Three Lions' game against Panama on Saturday, 27 June, which starts at 22:00.

It refused the two weekday applications due to the risk of "noise and disturbance" to neighbours.

Russ Savage, the authority's portfolio holder for people and communities, said: "The sub-committee was not satisfied that measures in place provided sufficient assurance that the licensing objective of preventing public nuisance would be met and made its decision accordingly."

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