England’s second World Cup clash is fast approaching, and excitement is building across the capital as the Three Lions prepare to face Ghana under the lights this evening.
It’s shaping up to be a lively encounter, with both sides arriving on three points after winning their opening group games.
A win for Thomas Tuchel’s men would all but seal a place in the knockout round of 32 with a game to spare, but Ghana won’t be rolling over easily as they look to derail England’s momentum.
And as the nation clocks off for the day, Londoners are turning their attention from the office screens to the pub screens, with fans flocking to their local boozers.
According to the British Beer and Pubs Association (BBPA), London’s pubs alone are set to pour an extra 144 pints per venue this evening, contributing to an estimated £2.5 million boost for the capital.
Approximately 500,000 pints are expected to be pulled across London during the match.
It comes as a welcome lift for an industry still under pressure, with rising energy costs, higher National Insurance contributions, and shifting generational drinking habits continuing to squeeze pubs across the UK.
Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: "The only thing better than enjoying a crisp pint in London on a hot summer's day is watching our Three Lions among friends and fans.
"Tonight's game against Ghana is expected to provide a £2.5m boost to our capital's pubs, with the average London pub pouring an extra 144 pints.
"Despite the significant boost to footfall, London still lost one pub every five days in the first three months this year due to the sky-high cost of doing business in the capital.
"That's why we need the Government to rethink the operating landscape for pubs, with a cut to beer duty greatly improving affordability for the sector."
London sports bar operators, including Sport London, report that table bookings for England fixtures are now fully sold out, with demand driven in part by a 40% rise in corporate spending per head.
Extended licensing hours for the World Cup are also providing a boost for venues.
With the tournament taking place across the United States, Canada and Mexico, kick-off times are much later for UK audiences.
This has meant the Government has granted temporary late-night extensions, allowing pubs and bars to remain open until 1am, and up to 2am for selected knockout matches.
But more needs to be done to futureproof the capital’s pubs, with London losing one boozer ever five days.
This continues a steady downswing across the capital, which saw a net loss of around 40 pubs over the previous 12 to 24 months.
