The Camfield will be the first WA pub to open on a Good Friday and sell just alcohol.

Australia’s biggest pub has been granted a special occasional liquor licence to coincide with Perth’s first AFL Good Friday clash on April 19.

The licence means that — unlike every other hotel in the State — The Camfield will be able to sell alcohol without the requirement that it be bought with a meal.

The licence will apply from 3pm to 11pm.

But Australian Hotels Association (WA) chief executive Bradley Woods believes all venues that want to trade as normal on Good Friday should be allowed to do so.

“The restriction of serving alcohol only where it is ancillary to a meal is archaic,” he said. “It doesn’t cater for interstate and international visitors, let alone local patrons.

“With other States such as South Australia recently reforming their trading restrictions to allow normal trading on Good Friday, it is time for WA to do the same.”

The Camfield co-owner Tim McLernon welcomed the decision that would allow football fans to enjoy a drink before and after the AFL match.

He said it was “a progressive decision” that would hopefully make it easier for other venues to open on Good Friday in future.

As The West Australian reported last month, Optus Stadium secured approval to sell alcohol during the Good Friday clash between the West Coast Eagles and Port Adelaide. The match begins at 6.10pm.

This is the third year an AFL game has been played on Good Friday.

But this year there will be a double-header, with matches played on opposite sides of the country. North Melbourne will host Essendon at Marvel Stadium at 1.20pm (WA time).