A LANDLADY has said bosses should give their staff the morning off so they can watch the England game at the pub as the Three Lions power their way to the next round of the World Cup.
England are due to take on Mexico in a last-16 clash in their next World Cup game, but kick off is at 1am on Monday when most people would ordinarily be in bed.
Football fever has been reignited in Worcester after a Harry Kane double put England through and had the Three Lions roaring again as the team gets ready for the next key clash at the Azteca Stadium against co-hosts Mexico.
England’s early kick off not stopping Worcester diehards
But the desire to find out if it really is ‘coming home’ this time is expected to see people battle into work (and to keep their eyelids open) after staying up late to watch the game.
REVAMP: Blackpole Inn, a Grandstand pub, has 10 screens to show the England Vs Mexico game for the FIFA World Cup 2026 (Image: Blackpole Inn)
Emma Lambert of the New Chequers in Worcester said they had interest from around 30 people so far who wanted to come to the pub to watch the game – but they had room for 200.
The pub reopened last July after a £300,000 refurbishment and, since then, has become a popular destination for sports fans.
Miss Lambert, who conducted a Facebook poll to gauge interest, said: “People should absolutely get at least the morning off. A lot of people are self-employed and they can get away with it. If I were the boss, I would absolutely give people the morning off.”
The New Chequers will not be showing games outside on the big screen in the beer garden because of the hour.
READ MORE: Imperial Tavern in Worcester bucks ‘closing pubs’ trend
She predicted England’s 2-1 defeat of DR Congo on Wednesday and joked: “I should have placed a bet!” She believes England will squeak through to the next stage with a 1-0 victory over Mexico.
But James Taylor, one of our readers, wrote: “No business is going to allow staff time off work for an England game…. wishful thinking.”
Grandstand pub Blackpole Inn promises stadium experience
Meanwhile, the Blackpole Inn is open and has 10 screens for people to watch the match, including one in the main bar. The big screen is three metres by two metres and 65 are booked for the Mexico game so far. They can cater for up to 200.
PRAGMATIC: Fred Jones of The Imperial Tavern is still trying to see if there are the numbers to justify staying open at 1am for the England game against Mexico (Image: James Connell/Worcester)
Zoe Holmes, who runs the pub with Lee Coopey, said that as a newly refurbished grandstand pub, the Blackpole was ideally equipped to show the game.
“The World Cup has been amazing for trade and, since we reopened, we have seen a 45 per cent growth in trade,” said Miss Holmes. They had 250 people in for the last England game.
READ MORE: FIFA World Cup 2026 – how Worcester pubs and police prepare
The Marston’s pub was relaunched in March under the brand’s new sports concept, Grandstand, which claims to rival a stadium experience following a £349,000 refurbishment.
Fred Jones, landlord of the Imperial Tavern in St Nicholas Street in Worcester city centre, said the advantages of people having the day off might be that more people could come to pubs and bars.
The 60-year-old is trying to gauge the level of interest from customers before deciding whether it will be worth his while to open the Black Country Ales pub, which he has run for the last 10 years.
“I haven’t got the numbers I need yet – we still need more. As far as giving people time off, it’s nice, but the wheels of industry have to keep on turning.”
