Football tournament helping to boost trade as pubs 'packed out'

PUBS have had a welcome boost in trade as England and Scotland compete in the Euros.

The international football tournament, which kicked off in Germany earlier this month, has seen teams battle it out to be crowned champions of Europe.

Following England’s 1-1 draw with Denmark on Thursday evening, all eyes are on tomorrow's final group stage game against Slovenia.

Joe Swindell, landlord of the Royal Oak pub on Dorchester Road in Weymouth says that his pub has seen a rise in footfall with the big event of the summer.

He said: “We’re well known as being a football-friendly pub and we've definitely seen more people coming in to watch the football.

“As well as the screen inside, we have invested in a 120 inch projector screen (in the garden) for everyone to enjoy the match.

The large projector screen at the Royal Oak in Weymouth  (Image: Royal Oak) Mr Swindell said that due to the colder weather, more people stayed inside the pub during England’s 1-0 opening win against Serbia on Sunday, June 16. However, as the sun came out for Thursday’s contest against Denmark, the garden was ‘full’ with more sat in the garden.

He said he hopes England go all the way in the tournament.

He said: “During the group stages, it’s all about England, and during the knock out stages people will come to see whoever is playing as there will be some big games.

Fans packed inside the Royal Oak in Weymouth (Image: Royal Oak) “The further England go the better it us for them and us. It’s exciting times to see the pub so lively and vibrant when we have an England game on.”

(Image: Sydney Arms) Donna Couderc, landlady of the Sydney Arms on Bridport Road in Dorchester, said the pub has been decked out in flags and decorations in preparation for the tournament.

She said: “The football has been absolutely brilliant- for each England game we have been packed out.

“We’ve got big screens up throughout the pub, and we have even been booking out tables for the football, specifically to reserve a spot for those big screen views.

“England going all the way to the final would make all the difference to the business. If we get knocked out it will be a quiet bar and the odd avid fan. It’s the England games that matters, as well as the Scotland matches- as we have had a few Scots in too.”