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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Andy Lines, chief reporter in Al Wakra, Qatar

England team to stay at alcohol-free hotel near camel riding club for World Cup

England's stars will get the right hump when they realise there is a camel riding business - right outside their World Cup hotel.

Captain Harry Kane and his team-mates will see the camels from their rooms every day of the tournament.

Four camels are kept penned in a fenced-in enclosure on the beach and are used to give rides to kids.

Tomorrow boss Gareth Southgate will find out the Three Lions opponents in the group stages when the draw is made here in Qatar.

It is a 22 minute metro journey from the Doha Exhibition and Conference Centre, where the draw takes place, to the town of Al Wakra.

The hotel where England players are staying during the World Cup only serves soft drinks (Tivoli Hotels)

This is where Southgate chose to have his HQ for the tournament which starts in November.

The hotel and the surrounding area are completely dry - alcohol is banned.

At the restaurant there are series of alcohol free “mocktails” including the “Sparkling Sunshine” and the “Moonlight Beach”.

Their most popular is the “All Roads Lead to Al Wakra” which contains milk, espresso, white chocolate, cherry syrup and cardamom syrup which still sets you back £7.50.

There are camels near the hotel (DAVID BERRIDGE)

Locals are delighted that England are staying but warned fans not to get drunk on black market booze.

Businessman Fahad al Shamlan, 50, speaking in the souq next door, told the Mirror: “We are very excited, and very proud, that England have chosen to stay here.

“The team and the fans will be made very welcome.

No alcohol is available at the hotel (DAVID BERRIDGE)

“But please make sure the England fans don’t drink too much!”

The hotel will be like nothing the players - or the visiting WAGS - have ever seen before.

The Souq al Wakra by Tivoli hotel is right on a busy public beach.

There’s a playground for the kids located on the sand and right next door there’s a women only gym.

The hotel is near a public beach (tivolisouqalwakra/Instagram)

Locals expressed surprise that Gareth Southgate chose this particular hotel over rivals in other parts of Qatar.

Security will be challenging and there is noise from planes landing at the nearby Hamad International Airport.

It’s right next to an extremely busy souq.

There are dozens of restaurants and cafes dotted along the beachfront promenade.

Harry Kane and his teammates will see camels every day (Getty Images)

Factfile

It’s a 5* 101-room resort.

It has no pool.

Small fitness room.

Serves no alcohol.

Five miles from International Airport 12 miles from Doha City Centre.

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