Pubs prepare for Women's World Cup

Pubs across the country are gearing up to welcome football fans at all times of the day to cheer on their teams, as the Women's World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand.

With the tournament starting on Thursday 20 July, pubs and bars across the UK that are showing the matches will be opening doors for breakfast to coincide with the early kick-off times. 

Some 30 of Greene King’s Urban Pubs will be opening early to show every England game, with each giving away 10 free England shirts before the England v Denmark game on 28 July. Hungry Horse pubs will be giving out free breakfast butties over the opening weekend.

Meanwhile, pubs like The Bellringer in Stoke-on-Trent are putting the games on big screens with deals on food for every match day and encouraging post-victory singalongs after England games.

"We had such a great atmosphere within The Bellringer during the men’s World Cup last year," says Victoria Mavin, who runs the Stoke site. "It really brought the community together. It was an obvious decision to show the Women’s World Cup in both of our pubs. Equality in sport has come such a long way in recent years and women’s football in particular is great to watch

"We cannot wait to create a buzz around the event in the coming weeks. One of our staff members is a 16-year-old female football player with incredible talent, and it’s so important that she sees that her sport is as valued as the men’s leagues. We want to set that example."

Progress means pints

According to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), last year's Euros provided a 5% boost to pints sales overall. Publicans will be hoping the Lionesses go all the way, as their appearance at the final doubled that, with pint sales up 10% during their victory against Germany.

"Pubs are unrivalled in the camaraderie, atmosphere and passion they bring to watching live sport," says Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA. "There’s nowhere better than the local to cheer on the Lionesses. We should celebrate the growth of women’s sport in the UK and the Euros-winning England team are spearheading the push towards greater equality in sport, and we're proud that pubs are playing a part in promoting the women's game."

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