World Cup

The Lock In Podcast

The World Cup vs Christmas

24-Oct-2022 By Ed Bedington

The World Cup is usually a bumper time for pubs, but with it clashing with Christmas, how are operators going to manage the two? With their usual expertise and competence, the podcast team investigate...

Charles Wells to invest £8m into French estate

06-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Brewer Charles Wells will invest €9m (£8m) into the growth of its French estate of managed pubs over the next three years.

Extra £30m worth of pints will be sold in UK pubs during England semi-final

10-Jul-2018 By Emily Hawkins

The UK economy could receive the massive money boost from pints bought during England’s clash with Croatia in the World Cup semi-finals, it has been predicted.

Kent pub to stop showing football after brawl goes viral

05-Jul-2018 By Emily Hawkins

A Kent pub has stopped showing World Cup matches, after a viral video of an aggressive brawl in their beer garden during the last England game.

A Pub's Guide to: The World Cup

Stand-out World Cup memories from pubs and bars

27-Apr-2018 By MA Editorial

Whether it's the "Hand of God", Gazza's tears, the Zidane head-butt, Beckham's red card or Archie Gemmill sending the entire Dutch defence for a hot dog in 1978, the World Cup never fails to deliver vivid memories that etch themselves...

My Pub: The Shack 68, Twickenham

06-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

After retiring from rugby union, former England and Harlequins back Ugo Monye decided to turn his hand to running a pub a stone’s throw from Twickenham Stadium. He and business partner Adam Saword discuss swapping rucks for the ruckus of running a pub.

Sports

Rugby: Making the most of the Six Nations Championship

04-Jan-2016 By Nigel Huddleston

How can pubs maximise sales around the prestigious rugby tournament? The Publican's Morning Advertiser offers top tips on getting the viewing experience right for customers as well as how to sell food and drink effectively before, during and after...

Magic World Cup moments still ahead for pubs despite England exit

05-Oct-2015 By Oli Gross

Licensees in England have been handed a double-blow this weekend –an early exit of the Rugby World Cup is a disappointment, and many predict it’ll be a financial hit for pubs due to less fans going out to watch the remaining matches.

Making the Most of Sport - in association with Sky

Rugby World Cup: It’s a scrum for the bar

04-Aug-2015 By Mike Berry

The Rugby World Cup is heading to England next month, and fans of the home nations are all optimistic of their team’s chances, and optimism among fans of any sport is usually good news for pubs

Football

What impact would the European nations boycotting the World Cup have on pubs?

29-May-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Publicans have expressed concern that pubs will lose business if international football teams across Europe boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Stuart Barnes says pubs can benefit from boost of Rugby World Cup

03-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Rugby commentator Stuart Barnes has said the World Cup presents a great opportunity for the country’s pubs.

Marston's CEO says sport is becoming less important to pubs

31-Jul-2014 By John Harrington

Marston’s chief executive Ralph Findlay believes the importance of sport on TV in pubs is “not what it used to be” as customers choose to watch events at home.

Admiral Taverns to offer free Coral World Cup football bets

12-Jun-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Admiral Taverns has teamed up with bookmaker Coral to offer both licensees and pubgoers free World Cup bets.

London operators hit out at TFL policy on Tubes during World Cup

11-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The pub trade has hit out at Transport for London’s (TfL) decision to not extend Tube opening times in the capital on the days of the World Cup’s later matches.

Menu ideas

World Cup action

06-Jun-2014 By Jo Bruce

With the World Cup kicking off on Saturday (14 June) PubFood takes a final look at how pub and restaurant operators are hoping to take a slice of the action.

Wales to get licensing hours extension for World Cup

30-May-2014 By James Wallin

The Home Office has bowed to pressure to allow Welsh pubs to open later to screen England’s World Cup matches.

Planning restrictions could scupper late openings for World Cup

29-May-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Pubs may be blocked from staying open late for England’s World Cup matches if it means they contravene restrictions on their planning licences, it has emerged.

Slug and Lettuce launch World Cup Hot Dogs

22-May-2014 By Elliot Kuruvita

Stonegate’s Slug & Lettuce are launching six themed hot dogs for the World Cup 2014.

World Cup tips for pubs - FREE download

08-May-2014 By Nigel Huddleston & Adrian Tierney-Jones

Publicans should make the most of the money-spinning opportunity afforded by the World Cup, with fans likely to head to the pub to watch matches. As The Publican's Morning Advertiser discovers, it’s time for pubs to cash in.

BUSINESS SUPPORT

World Cup 2014: How to feed the footie-fans

01-May-2014 By Robyn Black

With a number of late kick-offs, next month's football World Cup presents a unique challenge for food-led pubs

Government announces licensing hours extension for World Cup

31-Mar-2014 By James Wallin

The Home Office has confirmed it will allow pubs to stay open late for World Cup matches.

BBPA urges publicans to respond to World Cup licensing hours consultation

13-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is urging publicans to respond to the Home Office’s consultation to decide whether to relax licensing hours during England matches in the World Cup 2014.

Budweiser gears up for World Cup with new campaign

21-Feb-2014 By Mike Berry

AB InBev has unveiled a global marketing campaign for its Budweiser brand ahead of this summer’s football World Cup, in a bid to gain a slice of the estimated 13.2% volume boost in beer and cider that the tournament will bring.

PM 1 — Bureaucrats 0

06-Feb-2014 By Rob Willock

I’d just finished putting the finishing touches to a scathing comment piece criticising the Home Office for its decision not to grant a national licence extension for pubs during the World Cup.

PM orders rethink on World Cup licensing hours extension

03-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Prime Minister has “ordered a rethink” on pub opening times for England’s World Cup games in Brazil this summer, a day after the Home Office said it had ruled out extending licensing hours.

Home Offices rules out World Cup licensing hours extension

03-Feb-2014 By Mike Berry

The Home Office has ruled out extending pub licensing hours for England's opening football World Cup match in Brazil this summer.

BBPA produces World Cup guidance for pubs

24-Jan-2014 By Michelle Perrett

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has produced guidance for pubs to help them make the most of this year’s World Cup which is being held in Brazil.

Government will not relax licensing hours for World Cup, says Home Office minister

20-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

The Minister for Crime and Prevention at the Home Office has said the Government will not be relaxing licensing hours for next year’s World Cup.

Licensing extension for showing World Cup games not supported by police association

10-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

A group that represents chief police officers has said it does not support a national extension of licensing hours for the World Cup, something the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) said could bring in an extra £20m for pubs.

Calls for licensing flexibility during football World Cup 2014

31-Oct-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The British Beer & Pub Association is calling on the Government to offer greater flexibility on licensing hours for opening and closing weekends of the World Cup 2014.

Scrums of comfort

12-Aug-2011 By Noli Dinkovski

Licensees need to plan ahead to capitalise on this up-and-coming tantalising timetable of televised sport in pubs. As Noli Dinkovski discovers, there are plenty of ways to increase footfall and boost business.

Leading pub companies see August sales dive

14-Sep-2010 By Hamish Champ

Trading across the larger pub and restaurant chains fell more than 16 per cent in August, with poor weather and the fag-end of the World Cup...

Trade holds up well after Cup humiliation

10-Aug-2010 By Stephen Oliver

The World Cup gave a boost to the trade, which has been helped by the recent good weather, says Stephen Oliver.

World Cup dulls M&B food sales

22-Jul-2010 By Hamish Champ

Harvester operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) said today the World Cup had had a "negative impact" on the group's food sales, as customers...

MP's pub noise row blunder

15-Jul-2010 By John Harrington

An MP "regrets" not talking to a licensee before asking residents to report any complaints about disturbances from his pub. Margot James, new Tory...

World Cup trading 'as expected'

15-Jul-2010 By James Wilmore

Pubs performed "as expected" during the World Cup as England's early exit from the tournament was offset by the good weather, according to trade...

Wetherspoon scores a '0-0 draw' in World Cup trading

14-Jul-2010 By Hamish Champ

JD Wetherspoon, the managed pub operator, scored a 0-0 draw trading-wise during the recent World Cup, according to the group's finance chief. Keith...

Isaac Sheps: Licensees show World Cup inventiveness

05-Jul-2010

These are two lines from one of my favourite poems, If by Rudyard Kipling, and they seem rather apt at the moment as England fans deal with losing to...

Pete Robinson: The Smoking Ban - three years on...

01-Jul-2010

"Pub property prices remain at an all time high and there doesn't appear to be much of a slowdown on the horizon. But back to the stock market, where...

Come on England...for pubs' sake

25-Jun-2010 By John Harrington

An England win against Germany on Sunday would see pub revenues increase 5-6%, says a survey by accountants BDO LLP.

'Fabio got De Beers in'

24-Jun-2010

Fabio Capello last night let slip England's new-found secret of success - he let his players swig beer the evening before they socked it to Slovenia....

Defoe's winner worth millions to pubs

24-Jun-2010 By Matt Eley Matt

Pubs are celebrating with relief after Jermain Defoe's goal against Slovenia rescued the trade from a disastrous World Cup. Such was the suspected...

'Thirsty World Cup fans boosting beer sales'

22-Jun-2010

Millions of extra pints in England, stores emptied in South Korea and sales up in Japan - beer consumption has soared during the World Cup after...

Caroline Nodder: A critical few weeks for the pub trade

18-Jun-2010 By Caroline Nodder

The next few weeks are going to be really critical for our industry. Not only are we about to hear from the horse's mouth what kind of a taxation...

Pub Bitch: More World Cup balls and violence in the City

18-Jun-2010

Violence is golden For many licensees bankers are the cause of the country's financial woes — after Gordon Brown, that is. But lest you feel like...

'Two football fans given nationwide ban on watching World Cup in pubs'

18-Jun-2010 By Matt Eley Matt

Two football fans have become the first in Britain to be banned from watching the World Cup in any pub. The pair were arrested on suspicion of being...

World Cup pub ban for two men

18-Jun-2010 By John Harrington

Two men have been banned from all pubs for the duration of the World Cup after being charged with being drunk and disorderly. Stephen Selwood, 21,...

Essex pub installs pitch for World Cup

15-Jun-2010 By Lesley Foottit

An Essex licensee, Mark Wenn of the Parson's Barn, is celebrating the World Cup by turning his pub into a football pitch.

World Cup campaign in a gastropub

14-Jun-2010 By Gerry Price

Licensee Gerry Price talks about his plans for the World Cup at the Inn @ Westend, Surrey.

Pub Bitch: Trophy thieves and FIFA get into World Cup spirit

14-Jun-2010

Eyes on the prize With the World Cup upon us it seems appropriate to use language that will be all too common over the next few weeks, so with that...