England fans defied police requests to leave a Dallas pub ahead of the Three Lions' World Cup opener, purchasing more than 5,000 beers. Hundreds of supporters gathered at the Londoner Pub on Mockingbird Lane on Tuesday evening, with many staying out until early Wednesday morning despite police pleas to move on.
pub reaches capacity
The pub, which had advertised a later closing time, was ordered to clear out by bar staff and two police officers just before 10pm. Officers confirmed the early closure was due to the venue reaching maximum capacity, with only two security guards on duty. Before shutting its doors, the Londoner managed to sell 2,352 bottles of beer and over 5,000 beers in total, generating more than £30,000 from the evening.
fans remain on balcony
After the pub cleared, many fans remained on the balcony outside for another two hours. Dozens of Dallas Police Department vehicles lined the road, with officers standing and watching the chanting supporters. The police presence lasted about 20 minutes before all vehicles moved to a nearby area out of sight. Fans then spent around an hour kicking a football up and down the road and balcony, occasionally landing the ball on nearby car bonnets. A small group also dropped plants from the balcony edge.
event organizer speaks
Organizer John Gallivan, 39, from Bristol, said the scale of Texas made it harder for fans to find each other compared to European tournaments. He explained the event aimed to provide a central meeting point with a beer deal. Gallivan noted that many regular England supporters were unable to attend due to high costs, criticizing FIFA for pricing out fans. He is already planning a similar gathering in Boston for England's next group game.
Gallivan also highlighted the warm welcome from Texans, stating that the narrative of England being disliked is untrue. The event began with fans in fancy dress, waving St George's flags, and singing chants like "It's Coming Home" under the hot Dallas sun. Despite the early police intervention, many fans stayed to help bar staff clean up at the end of the evening.
