5th Oct 2026
From the Pitch to the Pub – How Football and Rugby Bring Local Communities Together
With the FA Cup, Champions League, and Europa League finals all landing in May, pubs across the UK have an opportunity to do more than just screen the games. These matches can become some of the biggest trading days of the year, offering not only extra revenue but also a real reminder of how rewarding it can be to run your own pub and create something memorable for your local community.
Make it easy for locals to choose your pub as their matchday venue by promoting your football coverage in advance. Use social media, posters, and word-of-mouth to let regulars know you’ll be showing the matches live.
When you run your own pub, every fixture is an opportunity to build new habits—turning one-off visitors into regulars through great service and good planning.
With English clubs featuring in both the Europa League and FA Cup finals this May, there’s even more reason for fans to head to the pub. Big-name teams bring big interest, so use these fixtures to create a welcoming space for all supporters and show your venue is the place to be for matchdays.
Add a bit of friendly competition by setting up a match prediction game in the run-up to each final. Invite customers to guess the score, first goal scorer, or time of the first goal, and offer a small prize like a free drink, bar tab, or meal voucher for the winner. You can collect entries in person at the bar or through printed slips on tables. It’s an easy way to spark conversation, build excitement, and give people another reason to get involved – even if their team isn’t playing. It also encourages return visits, as winners can be announced during the next big fixture.
If you’re looking to attract the younger generation, use social media to do more than simply announce that you’re showing the big games. Younger audiences, especially those aged 18 to 30, often choose where to go based on what they see in their Instagram feed or TikTok ‘For You’ page. Ensure your posts are visual, up-to-date, and relevant.
Instead of just writing, “Showing the final here!”, try short video clips of your setup, photos of fans enjoying previous games, or a reel that shows off your best drink offers or a beer garden with a large outdoor screen.
Another great way is to have student discounts available where possible. This way it feels like people are enjoying all the fun of coming to the pub for a game at a reasonable price.
The upcoming matches this month show just how central pubs can be during sporting moments – offering a great atmosphere and a memorable experience that customers want to return for.
The upcoming big football matches represent a unique opportunity to show how exciting and rewarding it can be to run your own pub. If you’re passionate about hospitality and like the idea of being part of big moments, now could be the perfect time to explore our pub vacancies. Click here to view our latest opportunities.