World cup pass
Bar Sport founder Scott Murray has introduced a multi-entry World Cup pass for £10 at all Bar Sport franchises, entitling the holder to pub entry for all of England’s World Cup games as demand is so high.
Hand-held ultra-fast food is the order of the day, with giant World Cup menus sponsored by Budweiser on display and a wide range of snacks named in honour of key players and sold from usherettes’ trays.
The menu features ’66 Legends — salads such as Nobby’s chicken & bacon (£7.75); Three Lions deli sandwiches such as Rooney’s Fish Finger Sandwich (£6.25); Goalkeepers’ Choice, including Shilton’s foot-long hot dog (£4.50 or £5 with pulled pork); the Managers’ Choice of street-food wraps including Sir Bobby’s Mexican Cheese (£4); and World Cup team platters for four, such as full rack of ribs, buffalo chicken wings, BBQ pulled pork, chicken fillet crunchies, Jalapeño cheese sticks, sweet corn chilli sticks and Thousand Island coleslaw (£29.95).
The company is engaging with key customer groups via social media such as Polish, Spanish and Italian networks and societies. Legendary football star Steve Bull will host the first of three England games at Bar Sport Cannock as part of its premium suite VIP offer (from £35), all featuring a four-course meal with wine, football personality and waitress service.
A World Cup Summer Ball Masquerade featuring a six-course meal, Brazilian showgirls and live salsa rounds off celebrations on 12 July. Turnover at each of five Bar Sport franchise sites is expected to rise by around £50,000, depending on England’s progress.
Brazilian street food
ETM Group site the Well, dubbed the Clerkenwell Cabana, has turned its cocktail lounge into an exotic cabaña sponsored by Havana Club Rum.
Bar snacks offer a Brazilian kick with street food-inspired chicken coxinha and traditional pork and bean stew.
English favourites on the menu will include mini Shorthorn beef burgers and mini Dexter steak and ale pies.
The cocktails on offer will include a Havana Club mojito or a Tropical Cabana Club Daiquiri blended with fresh pineapple.
Winning team of burgers
At Grand Union’s London bars limited-edition national burgers and cocktails and indoor and outdoor screens, are part of the World Cup viewing experience.
The bars will be offering World Cup Burgers (£9), which will be specially crafted with different toppings to represent 11 of the participating countries as well as international cocktails that start at £5.
Roy’s rolls
Mexican restaurant group Benito’s Hat will be offering a burrito dedicated to England manager Roy Hodgson.
The limited edition bur-ROY-to will come filled with succulent roast pork with crunchy crackling and a zingy apple sauce salsa.
Benito’s Hat will keep the bur-ROY-to in play as long as England are in the competition.
Chill out
Drake & Morgan site the Refinery on London’s Bankside is celebrating the World cup by creating a Great British Summer area complete with striped deck chairs, white picket fencing and screens to watch movies and the football.
The site is offering pop-up bars plus a VIP area for private bookings. Drinks include the World Class Beach-Bum World Cup Cocktail (£6.95), a South American concoction made from Abelha cachaça, lime juice, agave, red chilli, mint leaves, a splash of soda and an ice-cube boulder.
South American flavours
World Cup celebrations featuring cinema-style screens and stadium-style sound at Bitter ’n’ Twisted’s four venues across Birmingham include festivities at South American city-centre hideout Bodega, where authentic cocktails such as the Margarita, Paloma and Caipirinha — Brazil’s national cocktail — will accompany fresh South American food.
Private room hire is also on offer, with a special ‘Match Ticket’ deal of £5 for a World Cup match and bottle of beer or £10 for a match, a bottle of beer and a burrito.