Pubs and bars across the UK are preparing for a 'Super Saturday' as England take on Panama in the World Cup, with industry experts predicting a significant boost in sales. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) estimates that if the Three Lions go all the way to the final, pubs and restaurants could serve an additional 55 million pints, generating around £275 million in revenue over the tournament's 39 days.
London Pubs See Surge During Ghana Match
During England's group match against Ghana, London pubs alone served an extra 144 pints each, totalling approximately 500,000 pints and £2.5 million in extra revenue, according to the BBPA. The upcoming match against Panama is expected to see even higher turnout due to warm weather and the fact that millions of fans do not have to work on Sunday morning.
Extended Licensing Hours Boost Venues
Extended licensing hours until at least 1am for group matches are helping venues capitalise on late US kick-off times. Despite this boost, the sector continues to face closures due to high operating costs and changing drinking habits. The Mirror is supporting the industry through its 'Your Pub Needs You' campaign.
England Fans Praised for Exemplary Behaviour
Chief Constable Mark Roberts, NPCC Lead for Football Policing, praised England fans for their exemplary behaviour at the World Cup. Around 30,000 Three Lions supporters travelled to the Boston Stadium in Foxborough for the 0-0 draw with Ghana, with no incidents or arrests of British nationals reported. “The behaviour of England fans both before, during and after the match, was excellent and was a repeat of the picture in Dallas. The local police were very complimentary of them with Chief Grace of Foxborough Police, calling their behaviour ‘exemplary’,” Roberts said.
Scotland Fans Also Praised
Local bar owners and authorities also praised Scotland fans who attended matches against Haiti and Morocco. England currently top Group L, while Scotland are third in Group C, potentially setting up a last-16 meeting in Mexico City on July 6, depending on results in their final group matches.
England Need Win Against Panama
England must beat Panama on Saturday to guarantee top spot in the group. The team struggled against Ghana, ranked 65th in the world, with Harry Kane missing a late chance. Thomas Tuchel said Kane would normally score '99 times out of 100' in that situation. Fans voiced frustration at the 'bore draw', chanting 'Do you know how much we've spent' as rain fell.
Pubs and Venues Gear Up for Matchday
In Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, venues like The Fire Station fanzone are screening England's group matches with entertainment including DJs, quizzes, and themed food. In Blackpool, seafront pubs, sports bars, and fanzones are offering matchday activities. Allen Simpson, chief executive of trade body UKHospitality, said: “The pub is the best place to watch the World Cup, outside of being at the games themselves, and England and Scotland games typically deliver a sales boost of up to 42% on matchdays. Pub bookings for the first England game are up 184% year-on-year so I expect our locals to be heaving with fans during this summer of sport.”
Hospitality Sector Sees Booking Surge
For all hospitality venues, match bookings were up 98% for the first game against Croatia compared to the same date in 2025. Analysis of transaction insight from Euro 2024 by UKHospitality’s data partner Reward showed the year-on-year sales uplift for England group games was 42%.
