Where in Cambridge to watch the World Cup 2022
As the World Cup gets under way in Qatar, have you planned where you are watching the games?
The first match is at 4pm, UK time, on Sunday, November 20, when the hosts play Ecuador.
England play their first match - against Iran - from 1pm on Monday.
If you a fan that prefers to go to a pub to soak up the atmosphere, then there are plenty of options for you in Cambridge. Here are a few suggestions.
The Cambridge Brew House
The pub on King Street is anticipating a lot of people over the coming weeks - particularly for the England matches. Supervisor Olly Hoskins said: “It will basically be a first come, first served situation, where the World Cup games become top priority over everything else.
“We have three screens downstairs and one TV upstairs and a massive cinema room with a projector. England games are going to be crazy busy and we’re not taking any private bookings. Usually we’d have around 70 people for a Christmas party in that room but this year we’ve not allowed that to happen. We’ve blocked all those sort of bookings and let the England games take priority because we think it’s going to be so busy."
Olly notes that all of the Christmas decorations are now up and the World Cup decorations are going up too.
“We've got a World Cup map on the wall of the brewery at the moment,” he said, “and I'm seeing loads of little posters and every day there'll be more and more coming up leading up to Sunday [November 20].”
The Regal, Cambridge
There is sure to be a huge crowd at the city’s big JD Wetherspoon pub - The Regal on St Andrew’s Street - whenever England are playing, if the 2018 World Cup is anything to go by.
The decorations are up and one of the duty managers at the pub told the Cambridge Independent that it will be showing “most of the matches”on a big screen.
The Alma, Cambridge
Traditional drinking establishment The Alma in Russell Court - known locally as “Cambridge’s rugby and real ale pub” - will also be showing most of the matches on a big screen.
“It's a sports pub basically,” said the landlord. “This is a rugby pub but of course we’ll show the World Cup as well.”
The Grain & Hop Store, Cambridge
The Grain & Hop Store is another pub seemingly gripped by football fever. Anthony Negus, one of the pub’s team leaders, said: “We’re showing it on three different TVs, but it is a booked service so people had to pre-book for it with a £10 deposit. It is bookable, but it is seated - no standing."
The pub doesn't plan on showing all of the games.
“I think we’re operating on around 60 per cent,” said Anthony. “We’ll be showing all the England games and then a few of the other high-profile games in the group stages, and then we'll be showing every round from the last 16 onwards.”
For more information on pre-booking seats for matches, go to bit.ly/3ArGi8n.
The Graduate Hotel, Cambridge
Away from the roar of the pub crowds, the Graduate Hotel will be offering a World Cup party package, where groups can hire the penthouse suite to watch games, with party food and drink supplied. The party can be for groups of up to 10 people from now until December 18, the day of the final.
The spacious suite features a rooftop deck with sweeping views of Cambridge, a 50” HD TV and a living room area with a large sofa and armchairs.
The party package costs from £550/£55 per person, and that includes a catered party platter with sliders, hot dogs, chicken wings, fries, and a bucket of beers from the on-site Garden Bar. Party favourites such as Pimm's, extra beers and sapling vodka can be added on.
See graduatehotels.com/cambridge/private-world-cup-watch-party/ for details.
Is your venue doing something special for the World Cup? Let us know - email adrian.peel@iliffemedia.co.uk
When are England playing?
Here are the kick-off times for England’s Group B games, in UK time:
- 1pm, Monday November 21 - England v Iran
- 7pm, Friday, November 25 - England v USA
- 7pm, Tuesday, November 29 - England v Wales
