Wetherspoons issues new rules on England flags in its pubs for Euro 2024

Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has lifted a ban on England flags being displayed in its pubs for Euro 2024.

The popular pub giant better known as Wetherspoons or just ‘Spoons’ was at the centre of a patriotism row in 2018 when its venues were asked not to display England flags of St George’s Cross - or any other competing nations - during the World Cup.

At the time, Wetherspoons told the Express it ‘wouldn’t want an England flag being put up’ in its pubs by staff members but instead the firm had sent packs of bunting representing all 32 competing nations equally.

It caused controversy at the time with critics on social media calling the decision ‘petty’ and ‘unpatriotic’.

Back in 2018, Wetherspoons effectively banned flags from being put up in its pubs during the World Cup as a result.

At the time, spokesman Eddie Gershon told the Express: “We wouldn’t want an England flag being put up in the heart of a pub by a staff member.

“Whether flags are put up in staff rooms is up to the discretion of the manager.

“We have sent all pubs bunting, which includes flags of all the teams.”

He later told the i: “What we have said is the same as Christmas trees and decorations. We have sent this bunting to all our pubs, but staff can’t go willy nilly adding anything they want to it.

“What we aren’t looking for is for individual pubs putting extra flags up. So that one pub in Leeds might have a big England flag but another might not.

“The bunting is what we want people to put out. If they want them to put up a flag they can but we aren’t encouraging it.”

But today, Wetherspoons confirmed exclusively to the Express that pubs will be ‘free to display’ England or Scotland flags in its pubs ‘should they wish’ for Euro 2024.

Spokesman Eddie Gershon told the Express: "We want our pubs to be welcoming to all football fans and they will have bunting with the flags of all competing nations.

"Pubs are free to display Scottish and English flags as well, should they wish."

Thanks to a law change, pubs including Spoons will be allowed to open later and serve pints until 1am due to a relaxation of normal licensing laws specially for Euro 2024.

The rules are expected to hand a timely economic boost to pubs up and down the country as fans pack in to see Gareth Southgate's boys try to win a major tournament again at long last. 

As part of its growth plans, the pub chain is also in the process of constructing a £5m supersized pub in Newcastle.

Also included in the plans is a 26-room hotel alongside the bar which will be an extension of the existing Mile Castle Wetherspoons.