St Patrick's Day 2018 rugby: Where to watch England vs Ireland in London

Ireland might have already won the six nations following England's hard-fought defeat in Paris last weekend, but there’ll be a lot of pride at stake when the two teams meet each other in the last game of the tournament this weekend.

Irish and England fans alike will be out in force all over the capital this St Patrick’s Day to watch the game, take in the celebrations and kick back with a pint of Guinness or two.

It’s all set up to be a fantastic weekend of live sport with a party atmosphere taking over London, but where should you watch the game?

From great Irish pubs to one-off events, these are the best places to catch the rugby this St Patrick’s Day.

Hawker House

Guinness are hosting a huge St Patrick’s day celebration at Hawker House this Saturday to see this year’s Six Nations off in style. The venue will be showing the game on an 8m screen and fans can expect a party atmosphere inside the cool warehouse setting. There’ll be pints of the black stuff a plenty, and If rugby fans need something to line their stomach there’ll be plenty of street food from Hot Box on offer to keep them happy too. Tickets cost £5, which includes a pint of Guinness.

Canada St, London SE16, tickets can be purchased here.

The Faltering Fullback

Probably the most well-known ruby pub in London, The Faltering Fullback seems a natural choice for the city’s sports fans this weekend. Punters at this Finsbury Park Irish pub can always expect great beer, nice Thai food and a fantastic atmosphere. Make sure you’ll get there early though as this hugely popular rugby pub will be rammed in time for kick-off at 2.45.

19 Perth Rd, Finsbury Park, London N4

Crown & Shuttle

The Crown & Shuttle on Shoreditch High Street will be packed with rugby fans on Saturday, with England and Irish fans alike taking in the match day atmosphere in this popular East London boozer. The bar’s wide selection of craft beer make this a nice spot to take in the mid-afternoon kickoff, and if it all gets too much fans have option of spilling out into the beer garden for a half time drink too.

226 Shoreditch High St, E1 6PJ, crownandshuttle.com.

Philomena’s Sports bar & kitchen

Philomena’s is something of a haven for Irish rugby followers in the capital, with fans flocking here for major games in big numbers. The Guinness is very good here, which is always good news, and the regulars are as friendly as they come. It’s also just around the corner from Covent Garden and could act as the perfect jumping-off point for your celebrations in the city later in the evening.

40 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5AA, philomenas.co.uk.

The Porterhouse

There's a bustling atmosphere inside Irish pub The Porterhouse even at the quietest of times, but the venue really comes alive for the rugby. There’s a huge selection of craft beers on offer here, including a few that might not be to everyone's taste, meaning there's something for everyone behind the bar. It’s also the largest pub in London, so there’s usually enough room to stretch your legs - even on match days.

21-22 Maiden Ln, London WC2E, theporterhouse.ie.

Greenwood

What’s better than your living room TV screen? 16 TV screens with nearby beers and burgers, that’s what. This upmarket sports bar in Victoria boasts just that, having celebrated the Six Nations with vigour for every match of the tournament. On the day, hungry rugby-lovers can get a patty and a pint £15 with their ticketed beer and a burger deal.

170 Victoria St, Westminster, London SW1E, greenwoodlondon.com.

Pitch Stratford

Outdoor food, drink and festivities spot Pitch has returned to Stratford just in time for a knees up this weekend, complete with a 196 inch screen dedicated to the match. Grab street food from their regular vendors – The Gyoza Guys, Ticos and Kalimera – or get in the mood with a foodie kiosk dedicated to recipes from the Emerald Isle. Tickets can be purchased in advance or there are 100 on the door so get down early.

Bridge Rd, London E15, pitchstratford.com.

The Sun Tavern

This Bethnal Green venue has a particular penchant for Poitin and one of the capital’s largest selections of Irish whiskeys – add in the rugby on the TV and The Sun Tavern is perfectly poised for the championship’s penultimate bout. They’ve even teamed up with Irish whiskey distillery Teeling to create three special cocktails for the day, and post-ruby festivities will be provided by a soundtrack from Drew McConnell, bass guitarist for Babyshambles, Helsinki and Liam Gallagher.

441 Bethnal Green Rd, London E2, thesuntavern.co.uk.