Pub pitch bet 'turf luck' for licensee
A Leicestershire licensee has turfed the floor of his bar after a World Cup bet with his punters.
James Banbury of the Old Swan, Kibworth, laid the 23 square yards of grass and painted a penalty box with goal posts and a crossbar on his fireplace after England qualified for the second phase of the finals.
Banbury told the Leicester Mercury he took the bet that England would not qualify when they were drawing nil-nil with minnows Trinidad and Tobago.
He said: "The match was nil-nil and there was some banter among some of the lads who felt England would not get through to the next round.
"I told them I would turf the bar if England made it through and, after we won, I had to go ahead with it.
"It took me a few hours to do, but the response I've had from the punters has been good.
"Everyone who has walked in and seen the grass has burst out laughing.
"I'm really impressed with how it's fitted in and I reckon if I sprinkle some water on it, I can get it to grow."
James is already planning what to do if England win the World Cup.
He said: "I might even turf the whole pub out if we win the thing, but that is still a long way off at the moment."
