Liverpool pubs are set to benefit from the boost to trade and customer numbers brought by the FIFA World Cup.
The tournament will take place this summer in the USA, Canada and Mexico from June 11th and will last until July 19th.
Pubs are excited to see what impact the large traffic of customers enjoying the games will have on revenue.
Marseille Smith, of Kelly’s Dispensary, said: “You are going to make more money, but it also gets those people who have never been in here, who might come in once and they will enjoy themselves.”
He added: “It gets people coming and going.”
England and Scotland have already qualified for the tournament.
Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will fight it out in their playoff paths to qualification.
This presents an opportunity for pubs to entertain a diverse range of fans, beyond their usual punters.
Guto, of The Brookhouse Pub, said: “We could get a variety of customers, different nationalities, and it will open more windows for different sports afterwards.”
He added: “I am Welsh myself. I think it is a massive thing to have different nationalities [as customers].”
Scotland’s first fixture against Haiti on the 14th June kicks-off at 2am UK time, whilst England’s opener against Croatia on the 17th June has a 9pm UK start time.
An obstacle facing these establishments during the tournament is the late kick-off times for many games.
Mr Smith said: “We can only serve until 12 o’clock, but it can be subject to change. We may get extenuating circumstances, where we can open to show the world cup.”
However, the restrictions on pubs serving alcohol late into the night have not dampened the spirits of fans ahead of the tournament.
Fans still intend to support their usual pubs to watch the World Cup games.
Evan Channing and Ewan Downy, said: “We would probably go to the pub to watch it and then go somewhere else for a beer [once the pubs have closed].”
This 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, since the tournament’s expansion.
There are now 104 total games being played during the tournament.
(Featured image by Ross Parry)
