Mannings applies to open earlier on Ipswich Town match days

Mannings on the Cornhill has sent an application to Ipswich Borough Council to change its premises licence.

The application applies for Mannings to open at an earlier time of 8am on Ipswich Town match days, both home and away, when the kick off time is at or before 12.30pm.

Currently the pub, part of the Stonegate Pub Group, opens at 10am every day.

The application comes following the release of Ipswich Town's 2024/25 Premier League fixtures.

Ipswich Town will host Liverpool in their first Premier League match of the season (Image: PA)

Town's first game against giants Liverpool at Portman Road has already been selected for TV coverage and a 12.30pm kick-off.

So far, that is the only 12.30pm kick-off scheduled for next season but it would not be a surprise if more are selected - with 200 of the 380 Premier League fixtures being shown on live TV across Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Sport.

The released fixtures are subject to change and Town can expect to see many of their Premier League games selected for live coverage.

A spokesperson for Mannings said: "Mannings is a central part of the local community and our guests are hugely excited that Ipswich will now play in the Premier League. 

"We have made an application to vary our licence, which may be used on occasions when the game kicks off early, to enable our guests to meet friends, family and colleagues at the pub to build excitement pre-game and be the place for the community to come together to support their team."

Last season, Town had eight 12.30pm kick offs -  with four them being at Portman Road including Town's promotion game against Huddersfield Town at the end of the season.

That game saw pubs around the town filling up from as early as 8am.

Six of these fixtures were in the Championship, while two were in the FA Cup due to TV selection.

Representations on Mannings' application must be made by July 16.