Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Where to Watch Euro 2016 in London


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There's at least one place in London to feast on the cuisine, sample the liquor and share the emotions of all 24 Euro countries






















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Albania: The Queens Arms


No ordinary High Road establishment this, with Albanian food on the menu, bands on the stage, football on the TV and even the occasional book launch. What else would you expect from an establishment run by the father of arguably the most famous British-Albanian going, chanteuse Rita Ora? 1 Kilburn High Rd, NW6 5SE, queensarmspub.co.uk


Austria: Newcomer Wines


Osterreicher Klub London is taking in the Hungary and Iceland games with the aid of the bright young volk behind what they're calling the Austrian Wine Revolution. The Klub will be watching the Portugal clash and subsequent engagements at the embassy in Belgravia. 5 Dalston Ln, E8 3DF, newcomerwines.com


Belgium: Belgo Noord


It's unlikely you'll be cheering on the Rode Duivels cheek by jowl with Stromae, Tintin and Jacques Brel, but you'll be able to gorge yourself on moules, frites and flavoursome beers. Don't do chains? Hit Jan's in Stokey if you're willing to gamble actually catching the game for a superior ambience. 72 Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AN, belgo.com/restaurant/noord


Croatia: The Hoop and Toy


This unassuming tavern around the corner from South Ken tube claimed King Georges III and IV among its drinkers. Throughout Euro 2016 it will play host to the British Croatian Society as they roar on their red and white checked dark horses. 34 Thurloe Pl, SW7 2HQ, taylor-walker.co.uk


Czech Rep & Slovakia: Czech and Slovak Club


Set up in 1946 for Czechoslovak soldiers who fought with Our Boys in the Second World War, the club's period decor offers a pleasing backdrop. Don't be surprised if you're toasting goals with Becherovka on the house. 74 West End Ln, NW6 2LX, czechandslovakclub.co.uk


England: Famous 3 Kings


The F3K claims to have access to 71,000 channels “covering 25% of the Earth's satellite demands”. Ordinarily the place to hit when you want to watch the Wrexham game but need to keep one eye on goings on in Roskilde, all screens will be on England duty on Three Lions match days. 171 North End Rd, W14 9NL, f3k-london.co.uk


France: Le Pot Lyonnais


Does this place show French football? Oui, bien sur! Ligue 1 all season long. A 10-second social media audit paints Le Pot, and the proprietor in particular, as divisive characters, delightful one day and desperate the next, but this isn't a Saga tour. Eat your (superbly rendered) steak tartare!

36-40 Queenstown Rd, SW8 3RY


Germany: Bavarian Beerhouse





Long benches and foaming steins conveyed to them by strong-armed boys and girls in lederhosen or dirndls give this beer hall a permanent Oktoberfest feel. Pay a fiver to watch Die Mannschaft among their compatriots with commentary in Deutsch and they'll throw in a beer and guarantee you a seat and an unhindered view of the action. 190 City Rd, EC1V 2QH, bavarian-beerhouse.co.uk/london


Hungary: The Strafford Arms


Co-owner Peter Fejes used to run the Ox and Gate, which knew itself as London's only Hungarian pub, in Cricklewood and this is his new establishment. Only 10 minutes from Finsbury Park by train, many of the Ox's Magyars have followed him. Mutton Ln, Potters Bar, Herts. EN6 3BA, 01707 651438


Iceland: Tommi's Burger Joint


The Tommi's chain was born in Geirsgata, Reykjavik and their Chelsea branch is popular among the capital's Icelandics according to Rut from Félag Íslendinga í London. It'll be their base for watching Strákarnir Okkar's historic first steps into a footballing finals. 342 King's Rd, SW3 5UR, burgerjoint.co.uk


Italy: Pizzeria Pappagone


Can't be bothered squinting for a view of the Bar Italia [not] big [enough] screen? Then hop on the 29 north. For a place with the tagline “It's a nice'a place to stuffa your face”, Pappagone is staffed and attended by actual Italians who contribute to a buzzing atmosphere in which to consume your calcio. 131 Stroud Green Rd, N4 3PX, pizzeriapappagone.co.uk


Poland: The White Eagle Club


Not far from the Kosciol Chrystusa Krola Church on the High Road, this venue hosts weekly “zabawa” [folk music dances] that have drawn Poles from across the capital for years. Past football tournaments have drawn crowds in excess of 500 to cheer on Robert Lewandowski and friends. 211 Balham High Rd, SW17 7BQ, whiteeagleclub.co.uk


Portugal: Estrela Bar


Known as Little Portugal, Stockwell is a lot more Portuguese than London's Little Venice is Venetian, or Little Russia Russian, and “Star” is the place to support the Seleccao. Fans and families sip Super Bock while bemoaning their every-bit-as-frustrating-as-England representatives. 111-115 South Lambeth Rd, SW8 1UZ, estrelabar.com


Northern Ireland: Philomena's


The London Northern Ireland Supporters' Club are out in force at this family-run Irish sports bar in Covent Garden every time Michael O'Neill's men take to the field, contributing to what they call “the best match day atmosphere outside of Windsor Park”. 40 Great Queen St, WC2B 5AA, philomenas.co.uk


Republic of Ireland: The Faltering Fullback


An ivy-cloaked drinker of London-wide repute, the Fullback is equal parts cosy old-man, cavernous beer hall and multi-layered garden grotto, with walls and ceilings festooned with all the errata of the universe. Sport and Irishness are the constants. Jam-packed and pleasingly unhinged for the biggest Green Army occasions. 19 Perth Rd, Finsbury Park, N4 3HB, falteringfullback.com


Romania: Restaurant Pizzeria La Taverna


La Taverna is far from the only Romanesc eatery, but it will be showing the national team matches and any place good enough for Pepe (Romania's leading Latin music star performed there last December) is good enough for Coach. 290 Green Lanes, N13 5TW


Russia: Erebuni Bar & Lounge


This restaurant is named after an ancient site in Yerevan known as the “Fortress of Blood”, but don't let that put you off. It's atmospheric maroonness is fitting for the consumption of edible/imbibible delicacies and the hurling of murderous oaths against enemies of Russia in the direction of the big screen. 5 Carthusian St EC1M 6EB, erebuni.co.uk


Spain: The Duke of Wellington


Likely to be less rammed than King's Cross' Camino or Soho's Bradley's Spanish Bar, this traditional drinker attracts a confusingly sizeable group of ex-pats on occasions of footballing significance, catering for them with the Duke's own, decidedly British, take on tapas, gratis. 260 Haggerston Rd, E8 4HU


Sweden: The Duke of York


London, you've done all right getting yourself a Swedish pub when “Swedish” pubs don't really exist in Sweden. The Duke draws sizeable crowds for domestic Allsvenskan games. More Swedes than you could throw a blanket over anywhere else in central. 45 Harrowby St, W1H 5HT, dukeofyorklondon.co.uk


Turkey: Efes Snooker Club


If you're not a member of one of the plentiful sports-team-affiliated social clubs serving the sizeable Turkish community in Stoke Newington, Green Lanes or Dalston, this haven for cue sports purists is your best bet for catching Fatih Terim's men with fans who know the words to the national anthem. 17B Stoke Newington Rd, N16 8BH


Switzerland: St Moritz Club and Restaurant


Currently separated by an optician, this venue has been an institution since the '60s, thanks as much to gigs from the Kinks and Joe Strummer as the national cheesy lava. They'll be showing all the Rossocrociati action when the bands don't intervene. 159/161 Wardour St, W1F 8WJ, stmoritz-restaurant.co.uk


Ukraine: London Ukrainian Club Karpaty


The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain regularly meets up to watch the biggest of its domestic and international matches at Karpaty. Turn up in a majority Ukrainian group for best chances of gaining entry. 154 Holland Park Ave, W11 4UH facebook.com/London-Ukrainian-Club-Karpaty


Wales: London Welsh Centre


What's that you say, boyo? 170 square-foot screen? Holy lamb that's an enormous screen. Might be best to get your tickets sorted in advance if you want to able to belt out Hymns And Arias in the company of the big smoke's land-of-song contingent. Brains on tap for the cannibals. 157-163 Gray's Inn Rd, WC1X 8UE, londonwelsh.org




Thomas Reynolds

7 Jun 2016

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