Shops, John Bishop & darts - what is changing because of Euros final?

Tesco, comedian John Bishop and darts player Peter WrightImage source, Getty Images
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England have reached the Euro 2024 final and will face Spain on Sunday in a game that will kick off in Berlin at 20:00 BST.

There will be plenty of people making plans about where to watch the match as manager Gareth Southgate's players try to win the competition for the first time in England's history.

Events and businesses are altering plans to accommodate the game, with the World Matchplay darts the most high-profile sporting event to announce a change in schedule.

Tesco and Sainsbury's are among shops closing early, Wireless Festival will finish early and comedian John Bishop has also moved a show.

So what has been announced so far?

Revised schedule for darts

In darts, Sunday's evening session at the World Matchplay was scheduled to start at 19:00 but the day's play has been moved to an earlier time so it does not clash with the big game.

The afternoon's play at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool will begin at 12:00, with Ross Smith against Josh Rock, Danny Noppert facing James Wade, Dimitri van den Bergh versus Martin Schindler and Stephen Bunting against Ryan Joyce.

The later session will now start at 16:30 and involve Rob Cross against Gian van Veen, Joe Cullen facing Brendan Dolan, Peter Wright versus Andrew Gilding and Dave Chisnall against Krzysztof Ratajski.

A revised schedule was confirmed, external by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) on Thursday, a day after England beat the Netherlands 2-1 to secure their place in the final.

Media caption,

Highlights: Watkins sends England to Euro 2024 final

Wireless to finish early and Bishop will be 'busy' watching England

Wireless festival has announced it will end early on Sunday to give fans "plenty of time to travel home" to watch the Euro 2024 final.

The three-day rap, R&B and hip-hop festival in Finsbury Park, London, will finish at 19:00 BST and Sunday headliner Doja Cat's set has been brought forward.

About 50,000 fans attend Wireless each year.

Richard Ashcroft's show at Kew The Music will start earlier than planned so that "customers will be able to watch both the performance and the majority of the match".

Jamie Webster will begin proceedings at 17:45 BST before Ashcroft goes on stage at 18:30 BST, although the venue will not be screening the match.

Comedian John Bishop was supposed to start a stand-up gig in Wolverhampton at 20:00 on Sunday but has moved it so he can watch England take on Spain.

Bishop is a big Liverpool fan and posted a video on social media on Wednesday night detailing a change of time for his performance and the hashtag #itscominghome.

"This is a message to all the people coming to Wolverhampton on Sunday," he said.

"I'm not doing the show at 8 o'clock, the show's going to get moved to the afternoon.

"You're all going to get an email in the morning telling you the time.

"I know it won't suit everybody, so anyone who can't make it we'll give you a refund.

"But we're definitely going to move the time to Sunday afternoon cause there's no chance I'm going to be doing it at 8 o'clock cause I'm going to be busy watching these boys."

Supermarkets to change opening hours

England's supermarkets are also expected to join the party. Tesco said it would close more than 1,800 Express shops early on Sunday if England made the final.

Because of Sunday trading laws larger supermarkets will already be closed at kick-off but the smaller Express stores are set to shut at 19:30 so employees can watch the match.

Staff will still get their normal pay for those hours, while employees who do not want to watch the game will also be paid as normal.

"We appreciate just how much this would mean to so many of our colleagues, and we want them to be able to celebrate with their family and friends," said Tesco managing director of UK stores, Kevin Tindall, prior to the win against the Netherlands.

Sainsbury's is doing similar and posted a message on social media saying "it's coming home and so are we".

It added: "To allow our colleagues time to enjoy the game, Locals and petrol stations across England will be closing early at 7:30pm on Sunday 14th July."

Lidl will be opening its stores an hour later on Monday regardless of the result of England's final against Spain.

“We know how much this game means to England fans, and we want to ensure that our colleagues have the chance to celebrate such a significant moment in English football history," said Lidl's GB chief executive Ryan McDonnell.

“We couldn’t achieve our goals without our colleagues, so in recognition of their hard work and dedication, this move will allow them to join in the excitement and show support for the England team, and we wish them the best of luck for the big game.”

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,

Harry Kane celebrates with England team-mate Ollie Watkins after the semi-final win against the Netherlands

Tennis at Wimbledon might be over by the time England play in Berlin, although there may be some mixed doubles action still taking place.

However, any fans hoping to catch the game at the All England Club will have to find somewhere else to watch it.

Strict Wimbledon rules mean they will not show any other sport on the big screens around the grounds.

“The whole country will be behind them, including all of us here at Wimbledon,” Wimbledon chief executive Sally Bolton said.