Drinking up for the World Cup!

Dozens of city pubs have indicated they plan to lay on a special treat for patriotic football fans in June and July, but council chiefs fear the World Cup will be the first real test for fledgling late licensing laws.

Acting licensing manager John Lacy said the combination of the football, late nights and warm weather would mean more people would be in the city centre - putting a big strain on the new rules and regulations for pubs and club.

Mr Lacy said: "A number of pubs have intimated it (late opening for World Cup). This will be the first real test of the new licensing laws.

"We have had a period where crime has been reducing and we will be hoping to introduce an alcohol misuse campaign similar to that which we did at Christmas.

"We have had no applications for open space licences yet, but the World Cup will draw a lot of people into the city. It's at the height of the tourist season. There will certainly be more people in the city centre.

"There will be people who want to celebrate late into the city if England do well."

Mr Lacy said the misuse campaign would not simply focus on enforcement, saying people would be around to help as well.

The Press contacted more than two dozen pubs in York to ask what they had planned come World Cup time, and whether they intended to stay open later.

Many said they would be showing games on big screens to cater for the huge influx of fans expected to toast England to victory - and some also plan to stay open later following England's matches.

But police are expected to employ extra patrols to combat any threat of violence, while council bosses have warned they will use noise disturbance and enforcement powers to crack down on those who cause a nuisance late at night.

Council leader Steve Galloway said the authority would be watching the situation closely.

Peter Brownsword, who owns McMillans, on Rougier Street, said: "Our plans are not yet finalised but we will be showing all the live matches - and there will be pre-match warm-up events in the weeks before the tournament.

"We will have big screens - we already have a number of plasma screens and we will be bringing in a 12-foot-by-nine foot rear projection screen."

Nick Harteveld, manager at The Windmill, in Blossom Street, said he planned to construct three plasma screens in the pub's beer garden so that no-one would miss a second of the action.

At The Priory, in Micklegate, new manager Lee Daggett said he was likely to install TVs to cater for the football. He said he could serve alcohol late as part of a review of the bar's opening hours.

Where you will be able to watch the football in York

Red Lion, Merchantgate; big plasma screen in beer garden.

O'Neill's, Low Ousegate; will show England games on a big screen but will be open as normal.

Varsity, Lendal; World Cup plans not yet discussed.

The Priory, Micklegate; likely to stay open late after England games following review of opening hours.

Yates's Wine Lodge, Low Ousegate; open as normal.

The Capital, Low Ousegate; open as normal.

Lowther Hotel, Cumberland Street; open until 2am as normal.

The Windmill, Blossom Street; a number of plasma screens throughout the bar and three large plasma screens in beer garden. Will open late if enough trade.

Mcmillans, Rougier Street; a series of plasma screens and a 12ftx9ft rear projection screen. Pre-World Cup events will get fans in the mood. A late-night venue, it will not open later than its usual hours.

Barbican, Fishergate; a cinema-sized screen with space for 1,500 fans. Willl close an hour after the end of England's matches.

Rose and Crown, Lawrence Street; will show all the big games and is likely to apply for a special licence to open later - depending on demand.

The Acomb, Kingsway West, Acomb; will have four 50in screens and a large TV showing the games. It will stay open after the England games until 1am.

Marcia Grey, York Road, Acomb; will have two large plasma screens and is running a host of Cup-related competitions. It could be open until 1am for the big games.

The Brittannia, The Green, Acomb; one big screen, will stay open until midnight.

The Dick Turpin, Moorcroft Road, Woodthorpe; one big screen, open until midnight.

The Volunteer Arms, Watson Street, Holgate; one big screen and two TVs for the games and could stay open until 1am after the England matches.

Bootham Tavern, Bootham; two big screens, five TVs and a flat screen coming in for the World Cup. Could open later after England games, depending on demand.

White Horse, Bootham; one big screen and open until 12.30am as normal.

Cross Keys, Goodramgate; one big screen and two 42" plasma screens. Likely to open as normal.

The Bay Horse, Blossom Street; three TVs for the games and could stay open until midnight.

The Fox Inn, Holgate Road; one big screen, three TVs and one large TV in the beer garden for families. It will stay open until 12 midnight.

The Melbourne, Cemetery Road; one big screen for the games,open until 12.30pm.

The Junction, Leeman Road; one big screen in the 250-capacity function room and a large TV in the bar. Will stay open until 12.30am after the England games.

The Old Grey Mare, Clifton; two big screens and will stay open until midnight.

The Lord Collingwood, The Green, Upper Poppleton; small TV available for the matches and may be open until midnight.

The Flag And Whistle, Huntington Road; one big screen, one plasma screen and three TVs and will be open until 12.30am.

The Alice Hawthorne, Nun Monkton; one TV for the games and will be closed at 11pm.

The Winning Post, Bishopthorpe Road; one big screen and two TVs and will be open until 1.30am.

...and for those who hate football!

The Ackhorne, in St Martin's Lane, will be a World Cup-free zone and has no screens showing the games.

Updated: 09:10 Monday, April 24, 2006