A pub in Crayford is excited to welcome back football fans after hiring out a huge marquee, with German tables and a 118-inch screen to show the games.
The landlord of The Crayford Arms, James Irving, said he will be thrilled to see his customers celebrate men’s football again.
After the success of the marquee events during last year's Euros, he decided to bring back the marquee, and seats will be available for the England vs USA game on Friday (November 25).
James explained: “It's going to be exactly the same set-up as the men’s Euros.
“It is located in a car park that usually only has about seven spaces in it – when people came in they were like bl**** hell this is like walking into the TARDIS.
“It was one of the most successful things I've ever done in my life.
“It was so much fun. The atmosphere was unbelievable There were no fights and we didn't have any problems.
“Everything just went really smoothly and when we scored, you had 190 people jumping up and down.
“I'm trying to bring that back this time purely because it's the World Cup and it has been a hard year.
“You see everybody struggling in their own way with different things, whether it's depression or energy prices or they are having a tough time with their job or being out of a job…whatever it is, but for a tenner, this will be an absolute blast.”
James said everything would be hired including a 118inch LED screen on the wall, an outdoor bar and 124 German benches.
Tickets will cost £10 each which you can book via Facebook or Instagram, over the phone, or by email.
He explained that the inside of the pub will not be used for football.
He added: “I've had a bit of criticism that we're charging a tenner, but I think what people don’t understand is we are not just welcoming people into a pub and sitting down as if it's an everyday operation.
“It's a massive outlay - It's the biggest and the best thing in a kind of five-mile radius."
He added: “This is meant to be a positive approach to help a small business and give something back to the community that have supported me during these hard times.
“It's not about watching telly inside the pub with loads of people around, being squashed up and not being able to get to the bar or be served.
“It is an outdoor event and ultimately, it's for you, if you'd like to have the best experience watching football.
“You're watching a three-metre LED screen, a professional digital way of watching football – it isn’t just a telly.”
James said that each week the marquee will cost £640, TV screens £1,200, the benches will work out just under £1,400, the bar will cost £520 and then there is the hiring of additional staff.
James first took over the pub in February 2020, but has been in the industry for 12 years.
The Crayford Arms was originally built in 1864 and is now part of a Kent-based brewery named Shepherd Neame.
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