HARD-PRESSED publicans are gearing up for a winning World Cup.
Figures from the brewing industry suggest that football fans watching matches in pubs across the country will provide a £35m boost for the industry.
And they are pinning their hopes on England progressing in the tournament – to counter the threat of pub closures and competition from supermarkets selling cheap beer.
Punch Taverns, which has scores of pubs in the Huddersfield area, has even run a course for leaseholding licensees to help them make the most of the opportunities presented by the festival of football.
A survey by the British Beer and Pub Association said that almost 4m fans were expected to flock to the pubs on Saturday night to watch England’s opening match against the USA – when an extra 9m pints of beer are likely to be sold, generating additional turnover of £35m.
Similar numbers are being forecast for England’s second game – against Algeria – on the evening of Friday, June 18.
The third match – an afternoon kick-off against Slovenia on Wednesday, June 23 – is set to bring 3m football fans to the pubs. An extra 3m beers are likely to be sold, bringing in £15m in additional turnover.
