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Pub ban on World Cup as racegoers flood Ascot
By Mike PyleJune 18, 2010
Pubs in Ascot will not be showing England’s crucial World Cup match against Algeria tonight, unlike the rest of Bracknell Forest, to avoid trouble from drinkers leaving the races.
The game kicks off at 7.30pm, just as many people will be leaving the races at Royal Ascot after a day at the bar.
To stop any high spirits leading to trouble, pubs and bars in the Pubwatch scheme have decided not to show the game.
John Gripton, manager of Jagz at Ascot train station, said: “Pubs in the vicinity of the racecourse won’t be having it on.
“There are some further afield that are, but in the centre there won’t be anywhere with it on.
“It’s a shame but it’s probably the best thing to do.
“It was after a meeting members of Pubwatch had with the police.”
A police spokesman added: “We can’t stop pubs from showing it but it was advised that not showing it on Friday might be the safest course of action.”
Other pubs in Bracknell Forest are still showing the game, many of them with special offers
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The Crown Wood, in Opladen Way, Crown Wood will be showing England’s game tonight. On Wednesday afternoon a band a band will perform after the match against Slovenia.
Barmaid Debbie Jennings said: “We’ve got more flags than Buckingham Palace! It was good for the game on Saturday [against the USA], more people came than we expected.”
Amid the hysteria she will be one person at the pub whose loyalties could be spit if England meet Italy later in the tournament.
Debbie added: “I support Italy – if England play them I’ll be the only barmaid in Bracknell wearing an Italy shirt!
“I just fell for Italy and [former striker] Roberto Baggio when I was younger and went from there!”
- The Silver Birch, in Liscombe, Birch Hill, has TVs in both bars and will be screening the Friday game with offers on drink and food. A spokesman said: “We’ve heard that they’re not showing the game in Ascot so we’re going to make sure there are a few more staff on to keep up.”
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The Goose, in Station Road, Bracknell town centre, is showing all the World Cup games but has a separate room for people who don’t want to watch the football.
The pub is also offering a World Cup burger and it’s giving away raffle tickets so people can win Budweiser merchandise including shirts, beers and bottle openers at every England game.
Kitchen manager Mel Birch said: “Royal Ascot week is normally our biggest week. If they aren’t showing the game in Ascot it’s sure to be busy here – we’re right next to the train station so it’s very easy to get to.
“The atmosphere for the game on Saturday was great – it’s a shame the football wasn’t!”
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The Old Manor, in Grenville Place, Bracknell town centre, will be showing all the games. A spokesman said: “We don’t have Sky but as all the games are on ITV and BBC we can show them for the World Cup.”
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The Running Horse, in London Road, Bullbrook, is serving a special ‘Three Lions Burger’ during the tournament, which features cheese, bacon and a ‘smoke and fire’ sauce, and showing all the games.
Manager Ian Tait said: “It was amazing in here on Saturday night for the first England game – we did a record take!”
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The Prince, in High Street, Crowthorne, is showing all the games and is celebrating England games with barbecues.
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Downshire Golf Complex in West Road will wbe holding a World Cup disco and barbecue in West Road on Friday evening.
If your pub is doing anything special, let us know. You can email us at editorial@bracknellstandard.co.uk.
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