Football’s coming home, and Pubs and Working Men’s Clubs are Thriving
Pubs, bars and community clubs have all reaped the benefits of the Football World Cup Tournament this summer. Venues showing the football have seen a 40% rise in bookings says SportLondon – and a 90% increase in revenues for businesses, says Square payments.
Pubs and clubs who have proactively arranged to show the games, particularly the late-night clashes and midweek matches, have profited the most. Drinks sales have risen to more than double the usual levels, soaring over 121%, for games played between 10pm and 1am. With it, food sales have also increased, alongside footfall and dwell time at licensed venue.
The better England do, and the further the home nation drives into the tournament, the more people are expected to visit bars and attend events. The Argentina vs England game on Wednesday 15th is expected to draw the largest crowds and be the most highly anticipated match of the tournament so far. With a reasonable start time of 8pm, sports and social clubs and community centres will wisely be opening up their venue to the public and advertise that they will be showing the game. Midweek games provide an enviable boost to venues, on what would typically be a quieter night.
Bank holiday announced if England win the World Cup
It’s official, Kier Starmer has announced that if the Three Lions make it to the final of the World Cup and ultimately triumph, the UK will receive an extra bank holiday. This will be one of Kier Starmer’s final acts in the top office before he submits his official resignation to the King on Thursday, following the resumption of England’s World Cup campaign on Wednesday night.
The provisional bank holiday will take place on Friday 24th July. If England reach the final, this will only be the second time in our history that we have reached the final of the World Cup. But first we’ve got to get past Argentina.
Flexible Licensing Laws announced for World Cup
The UK government last week announced new flexible licensing laws for licensed premises. Pubs and clubs will be allowed to serve patrons up to 30 minutes after the final whistle of a game. This accounts for games moving, delays and extra time. England matches are currently the only games that have been permitted for this Order. A proposal has been sounded for both the Semi Finals and the Final, regardless of England’s position.
This comes after the Mexico vs England game, a nail-biting match which was unexpectedly pushed back an hour due to the weather. The Labour Government was praised for their stance on ensuring pubs can display the game, and doubtless will want to continue this positive outlook by allowing venues to stay open for as long as the football is shown.
Shocking World Cup Drink Sales Statistics
While many of us stayed up to watch Norway vs England on Sunday – Monday 6th July, Mexico vs England, broker records as the most profitable Monday for pubs and clubs up and down the country. NDML, the nighttime industry insurer, posted some of the most prominent statistics from that day:
- One third of pubs elected to stay open for the England game vs Mexico
- Drink sales were up 67%
- 5.95 million pints sold on Sunday night, that’s 1.25 million extra pints
- 113,000 guest bookings for World Cup games at Stonegate pubs
- NTIA’s Listen for Life Campaign recorded a noise level of 135 decibels, equal to a jet taking off
- 367% increases in transactions made compared to a regular Monday morning at 1am – 3am, & rose 746% compared to 3am – 5am.
Risks to Avoid when Hosting a World Cup Screening?
The World Cup Semi Final and Final will be the most watched and anticipated event of the year. Sports Clubs, social clubs and community clubs should take advantage, advertise to members they are showing the game, and ensure they have everything in place to display.
Check stairs, bannisters and walkways – Club managers should ensure their club is ready for an influx of visitors before the matchday. Do a sweep of your premises, check for loose bannisters, add light strips to stairs and steps, and clear walkways. Have a slips sign and mop bucket ready and available as spillages are a common occurrence during intense football matches.
Stock up on food and drink – Most profits will be made on food and drink sold at the venue. Club owners should ensure they have plenty of stock available for these busier matchdays. Crisps, snacks, nuts, soft drinks and juices will also need to be purchased, as the World Cup attracts every manner of person to your venue hoping to witness a famous England victory.
Insurance Review – There is a higher likelihood of slips and trips during an event at your club. Have your insurance broker review your insurance policy limits. Have all the details of your event ready including expected capacity, times and dates, activities and security measures. Your insurance broker will be able to provide guidance over the phone, assess your current insurance policy, and ensure you are acting with due diligence and within your policy limits. For clubs not currently insured by Club Insure, we provide this service completely confidentially and completely free. Contact us at 0344 488 9204 today.
Streaming licenses – A TV license is legally required for your premises to be allowed to show the game. Purchase a TV licence for your address immediately as fines for forgetting this measure are significant.
CCTV – Ensure your CCTV surveillance system is in good working order. Clubs must have the following locations covered by cameras at all times of the day. Comprehensive CCTV placement will help prevent thefts and crimes, and will speed up the claims process.
- Bars and drink serving areas
- Dispensing machines
- Lobby areas and vestibules
- Areas where door security personnel are working
- Stairwells
- Exits and entrances
- Car Park entrances (without recording another property)
Staff Training – Clubs need to ensure paid staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in the lead up to a matchday. This may involve use of the incident report book, spotting signs of crime, theft or disorderly conduct. Customer service, de-escalation, age verification are also areas that managers need to be confident their bar staff can undertake. Cash handling, cost calculation and compliance will be required of all staff, especially during busier periods in your club.