Pubs were packed at 4.30am after euphoric England fans celebrated Harry Kane and the rest of the team’s dramatic last 16 win
A nation of exhausted but delirious England fans have already begun planning for Saturday’s World Cup battle after the team’s stunning World Cup victory over Mexico.
All eyes have already turned to England’s quarter final with Norway – at a more acceptable start time of 10pm – with discount website VoucherCodes estimating more than 24 million fans will tune in, and spend £385.5million in pubs and shops.
It came after many who stayed up to watch the 2am kick-off against Mexico struggled to get any sleep after what was seen as one of the greatest sporting performances by any England football team. Some battled on through with little to no rest at all before the start of the working day.
Others who opted not to catch the nail-biter live woke up extra early to watch it on catch-up – while desperately trying to avoid spotting the result beforehand. The BBC will reveal viewing figures for the game on Tuesday.
Normally busy roads and railway stations were noticeably quite during the morning rush hour as people started late, if they their jobs or bosses allowed. More than a few are thought to have pulled sickies too, experts predicted in advance.
Two goal match hero Jude Bellingham told England fans to have the day off work and school to celebrate the famous World Cup win.
When asked post-match to send the England faithful a message, he said: “Have another shot and text your bosses to say you’re not coming in tomorrow. That’s about it. My god, if you can’t enjoy a night like this, just for one night, then I don’t know what it’s worth.“
Buttsbury Primary School in Billericay, Essex, was among those that replayed the game so pupils could share the excitement before lessons.
Keir Starmer stayed up for the game. The PM’s official spokesman said: “He watched it upstairs in the Downing Street flat with his son. He’s a touch sleep deprived this morning, but incredibly proud of the team, and incredibly proud to be English after that performance.
“He’s seen England play over many years, but this morning’s victory in the heat of the Azteca Stadium, and at altitude and against the host nation was up there for him as being one of England’s best ever performances. He’s very much looking forward to the quarter final on Saturday.”
With pubs allowed to open until 5am, some fans may even have gone straight from their local to work.
Landlady Dawn Slater, who runs the Garricks Head in Urmston, Greater Manchester, said the pubs was still packed to capacity of 280 people at 4.30am, when she finally called time.
She told the Mirror: “The atmosphere was absolutely electric from the first whistle to the last. The place was buzzing all night, with fans fully behind the game.”
Thea Barrotts, general manager of the Cramptons Bar in Broadstairs, Kent, said: “It was a really good day, great atmosphere, great vibes. Obviously good for the pub to get a boost, especially on a Sunday.”
“We sold 1,386 pints in total – more than we sold on New Year’s Eve and don’t get me wrong, we had a really good New Year’s Eve. We had a big event, it sold out.”
“We closed a bit earlier. We finished the game, then we did a bit of Sweet Caroline and a bit of ‘It’s Coming Home’, and then we gave out bacon sarnies on the door to everybody. We made 150 bacon sarnies, which we underestimated how long that was going to take us.”
Despite the bleary-eyed kick-off time, an army of 17.8 million fans were forecast to stay up to watch the drama unfold.
The number of people out and about on high streets between midnight and 6am was up nearly 144% on the same time last year, according to data from MRI Software. London saw a 188% surge.
Stonegate, the UK’s largest pub company, says it served 796,000 drinks – 355,000 more than a typical Sunday. It had 24,000 advance bookings across its 717 boozers, with fans going on to down 412,000 pints. Spirits sales also surged, up 30,000 on England’s last game to 145,000, including 59,000 shots of best seller overall Smirnoff Red vodka.
Jared Sedgwick, of rival Marston’s, said: “Last night was something truly special. Around 450 of our pubs stayed open through to 5am and the atmosphere was everything you’d hope for – passionate, community-spirited and the kind of night that everyone who was there will remember for a lifetime. The numbers tell their own story – between 11pm to 5am, over 120,000 drinks were sold.”
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “This was an outstanding night for the Three Lions and fans. Sport and pubs go hand in hand which is why the tournament is a huge boost for pubs, and locals up and down the country will be welcoming communities through the door for the next match.”
The Co-op said it sold 50,000 pizzas on Sunday ahead of the match while its pizza and beer deal saw a 22% increase in sales compared with the previous Sunday.
