Will Tesco and Asda World Cup beer offers kill pubs?
Filed under: Entertainment, Food and Drink
Traditionally the football World Cup is hardly a tough time for publicans. Matches are on every day, day and night. The number of supporters swells 10-fold, as their ranks are joined by those coming to support their country, or purely because that's where all their mates are all week, so if you can't beat them, you may as well join them.And where do those people watch the matches? Do they, like the tragic Mark Addy in the Tesco adverts, sit alone on their new chair enjoying all the atmosphere of a sterile front room? Or do they charge down the local boozer and raise a glass or 14 to the boys? According to publicans, there's every risk they'll be staying at home this year.
England fans will spend up to £319 million – or £6,399 each - if the team goes all the way to the World Cup final on July 10th, according to Virgin Money.
The collapse of Setanta had a peculiar side-effect which will leave football fans seriously out of pocket this weekend. After the TV company folded, the rights to this weekend's World Cup qualifier were up for grabs. No broadcaster bid for the right to screen the match, so it was snapped up by a company called Kentaro, who will be broadcasting it online on a pay-per-view basis.
