police restrictions on venue - do you think there's anything I can do?

Assuming you have exclusivity of this pub/function room, that may not be an issue, as everyone there will be like-minded people. They may make an exception for you. Does your contract with the pub say anything about potential bans? Also, assuming that they have been running through previous world cups, if they have experienced this in previous years, then it would be very daft of them to allow a wedding party to book during this time...

Do you have a written contract with the venue? You could see if there's anything in there about restrictions etc. I have a feeling we made special provision when I used to work in a pub, including slightly different serving hours, so there must be something that differentiates you from just "pubs" in terms of the policing. Does the ban apply to local hotels, for instance?

I suspect there might be more mileage in popping in to your local police station and making a polite query (lunchtimes better than evenings, for obvious reasons) as they're more likely to deal with your question straight away? Alternatively, your local police commissioner might help?

In terms of worst case scenarios, apart from your own daughter, could the children retire to accommodation at 10pm? How late is your licence at the venue (i.e. are parents going to be missing out on an hour of the party or 3 if the party runs to 1am?) And very very worst case, do you have wedding insurance if you need to move things last minute if all of this is insurmountable?

Best of luck getting it sorted.

We have the function room - the games will be being shown in the main pub. I did ask the landlord whether it definitely applied to the function room, and he said that it was a blanket ban across the building.

It seems to make little sense that they're fine with kids up til half time in a game not involving any home nations, but after that they can't even be in an adjoining room where the football isn't even being shown!

No we don't have a written contract, so nothing we can do there. the venue isn't local, so nothing I can do about sorting out in person either, although I may get OH to give the police station a call (he's better at that stuff than me). It's all due to finish at midnight, so it's looking like a lot of people will just have to leave early. Not the end of the world as we are starting the reception fairly early, but a bit of a pain in the backside!

Oh dear, I hope you manage to get some answers from the police, let us know how you get on

My brother is fairly local to the pub so i've asked if he can pop in there and have a look at the letter - i'm hoping the landlord may have misunderstood something because it really doesn't make sense!

Oh hunni i feel sick for you! i wish to god i could add something helpful or useful but really i just wanted to wish you luck!

do let us know how you get on- i hope the police can help you out! it's the sort of thing i used to get given at the local paper 'police spoiled my wedding when they kicked my flowergirl/daughter out at 10pm'. rules are rules, i get that, but sometimes exceptions need to be made.........

i have EVERYTHING crossed for you my lovely xxx

Thanks Miss Winter OH is waiting for a call back from the licencing team, so fingers crossed

Update! I spoke to the licencing officer who imposef the restrictions this morning, whose explanation was somewhat different to the one the landlord gave me yesterday! Long story short, last weekend there were several serious breaches of the terms of tjeir licence and, in normal circs, they would have been shut down - the only reason he's allowed them to carry on trading at all is due to the fact they have several private bookings this month. He said that he'd spoken to them this morning and suggested ways they might be able to work around the restrictions on saturday, but ultimately it's up to them. So we'll play it by ear I guess, in the meantime being very thankful I still have a venue!