Edinburgh's Licensing Board is responsible for regulating the sale of alcohol to the public and certain gambling activities, by issuing alcohol licences and betting and gambling permits.
Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005
General Extension of Licensed Hours – FIFA World Cup 2026
At its meeting on 23 February 2026 the City of Edinburgh Licensing Board made a determination extending licensed hours. The general extension will take effect from 11 June to 19 July 2026. This applies as follows:
Area: the whole of the City of Edinburgh
Type of Licensed Hours: on-sales
Description of premises: those which have “televised sport” as a listed activity in the operating plan
Effect: premises which meet the listed criteria may remain open for the purpose of screening any World Cup match during the tournament until 30 minutes after the end of the match.
Note: The hours of operation of any outdoor areas, and children and young persons access, are not included in the extension and remain as stated in the premises licence. Premises will be contacted individually and asked to confirm their intention to make use of the extension. Premises are encouraged to implement responsible management arrangements to ensure the promotion of the licensing objectives, including ensuring adequate staffing provision, and consideration of stewarding and safety measures. The Board may review and alter the terms of the general extension if required.
Statement of Licensing Policy 2023
The Board agreed the terms of its new Statement of Licensing Policy at its meeting on 27 November 2023. Webcast recordings of the meeting are available for viewing on the Council’s website. The final version of the policy confirms changes to extended hours policy, occasional licensing, expectations on safe travel arrangements and a number of other adjustments.
Overprovision
On 23 June 2025 the Board agreed a supplementary statement of licensing policy with regard to its overprovision assessment. This followed a statutory consultation process and detailed consideration by the Board. Details of the following information considered by the Board on this topic are available:
- Download the report to the Licensing Board 26 May 2025
- Download the details of numbers and capacity of premises
- Download the consultation responses
- Webcast of Board meeting 23 June 2025.
Licensing Board members
- Councillor Louise Young (Convener)
- Councillor Jason Rust (Vice Convener)
- Councillor Pauline Flannery
- Councillor Cammy Day
- Councillor James Dalgleish
- Councillor Chas Booth
- Councillor Norman Work
- Councillor Catherine Fullerton
- Councillor David Key
View recent Licensing Board meeting papers
Download details of what to expect at a Licensing Board meeting (PDF, 285KB)
Financial statements
Download the Edinburgh Licensing Board's annual financial statements (PDF, 297KB)
Alcohol and gambling policies
Download the gambling policy and related documents (PDFs)
Download the alcohol licensing policy (PDF, 8MB)
Equalities policy and outcomes
Download the equalities policy outcomes (PDF, 161KB)
Download the equalities policy 2018 (PDF, 282KB)
Freedom of information
Download freedom of Information publication scheme 2018 (PDF, 208 KB)
Annual functions reports
Download annual reports on the board's functions (PDF, 108KB)