Trade booms for World Cup pubs

England's victory in their first group game against Paraguay on Saturday saw hordes of happy fans toast the team's success with a pint or two and the sunny weather added to the party atmosphere.

Pubs across the country reported peaceful celebrations with the only outbreaks of football-related trouble found in Liverpool and London where thousands of fans gathered around huge screens to watch the match outdoors.

With competition fierce between pubs, licensees dreamed up innovative ways to tempt customers into spending their cash with them.

Customers at the Chestnut Tree, a Greene King pub in Andover, Hampshire, could enjoy the glorious weather and watch the football from the pub's outdoor terrace.

Plus, 12 raffle winners were given VIP treatment, watching the game from plush velvet reclining seats with food and drink served to them whenever they needed a top up.

At the Windmill in Swindon, Wiltshire, customers were given the opportunity to buy season tickets, guaranteeing them a seat to watch the rest of the tournament at the pub in comfort.

"The Windmill is dedicated to sport and we have a lot of loyal customers who visit the pub purely for this reason," said Paul Davoile, manager of the Greene King pub.

And in the Avery in Cambridge, 10 screens and tiered seating ensured every customer could get a good view of the action on the pitch.

"There's nothing more frustrating than not getting a good view when you're watching a match," said manager John Kent. "The tiered seating ensures that all our customers will get a good view for the duration of the tournament."

While pubs enjoyed a trouble-free start to the World Cup, plans to show all of England's matches on big screens in Liverpool city centre and London's Docklands have been scrapped after violence marred Saturday's match.

Fighting broke out in Liverpool and London as fans became frustrated with the England team's performance and bottles were hurled by the crowd.

The big screen in Manchester city centre may also be abandoned after thousands more people crowded into the city centre to watch the match than were expected.

England's second group match, against Trinidad and Tobago, kicks off at 5pm on Thursday.