WATCHING sport in the pub, like queuing and putting the kettle on, is one of Britain’s great national pastimes.
And unless you’re going to the stadium, there’s no better place to catch the big match than down your local.
While loads of locals simply put the telly on in the corner, there are those venues who go that extra yard to make the big match experience a truly memorable one.
As The Thinking Drinkers – professional pub-goers and huge sports fans – we’ve picked the best sports pubs and bars across Britain.
Ranging from sizeable city centre sports outfits to historic pubs, quirky boozers and lovely locals – here’s where to go that even if you don’t like sport, you’ll have a good time.
Let’s find out who made the starting line-up in the Thinking Drinkers Sports Pub XI.
The Famous Three Kings, West London
This London pub is rightly famous among fans of everything from football and rugby to ice hockey, Gridiron and even handball.
Boasting 39 HD TV’s, access to hundreds of sports channels and an awesome audio setup with the ability to ‘zone’ sound and commentary of up to 6 games at once, it’s no surprise that it has won numerous industry awards.
The King Street Brew House, Cambridge
This recently refurbished brewpub serves up loads of live sport alongside some decent drinks, including its own freshly brewed beers, and a cracking menu (including a curried lamb croissant).
If you’re in Cambridge, it’s certainly worth a punt.
Most read in Best of British
Ye Olde King & Queen, Brighton
Situated a short stroll from the seafront, this vast grade-II listed Mock Tudor castle of sport is like being in the Traitors.
A huge protector screen dominates the main bar with TVs scattered everywhere showing all domestic and European footy action.
It even has its own bar dedicated to F1.
The Royal Dyche, Burnley
Close to Turf Moor, home of Burnley FC, this now legendary local has become a football institution since renaming itself after ex-manager Sean Dyche who, back in 2018, secured European qualification.
It’s got stadium-seating in the garden, plenty of screens and there’s ‘claret’ everywhere (not blood or Bordeaux but Burnley FC memorabilia).
They also serve Benedictine – a French herbal liqueur loved by locals since it was famously drunk by soldiers of the East Lancashire Regiment during World War One.
Perhaps not the best pub for Preston fans.
Brotherhood of Pursuits and Pastimes, Leeds
Like Dominic Calvert-Lewin, this illustrious Leeds city centre sports bar is a stylish looking fellow.
Quality cocktails, fantastic food and a great 4K screen set-up and surround sound audio.
There’s not a single spot where you can’t clearly see and hear the action and, in the event of a sporting clash, they’ll dedicate areas of the bar to the different events.
The Murderers, Norwich
One of Norwich’s oldest locals, and named after notorious murder of a former landlord’s daughter back in 1895, this makes for a great cosy pub to watch the game.
But thankfully, when there’s a big game on, that doesn’t dampen the lively match day atmosphere – enhanced by a well-kept range of real ales and numerous screens skilfully snuck into all the pub’s snugs, nooks and crannies.
The Box, Manchester
With 35 top-of-the-range tellies this Deansgate venue doesn’t just have football but cricket, Gridiron, rugby, boxing and F1.
Fairweather fans can occupy themselves with some shuffleboardor some ‘bandeoke’ – karaoke with a live backing band on stage.
The food’s good, there’s brewery fresh Budweiser Budvar on tap and two-pint Steins to swig.
Bloodsports, Central London
This down-to-earth dark, dimly lit dive bar and late-night hang-out has 30 screens showing a combination of live sports and horror flicks.
Open till 2am every night, it boasts Britain’s best ‘Bloody’ Mary menu, proper burgers and there’s even an Alfred Hitchcock’s Pyscho photo booth.
Golaccio, Huddersfield
If Luciano Pavarotti belting out ‘Nessun Dorma’ brings a tear to your eye or you spent much of the 1990s watching Serie A on Channel Four, then get yourself down to this retro love letter to the golden age of Italian footy.
Draped in old-school football shirts, scarves and posters from iconic Italian clubs, there are four large screens and a pull-down projector, banging Italian-inspired burgers and regular football quizzes.
Ye Olde Golf Tavern, Edinburgh
This awesome Edinburgh boozer is perched on the edge of one of the oldest golf courses in the world, dating back to 1456.
So, when the final whistle blows on one of the bar’s many screens, you can hire a couple of clubs for a few quid and tackle 18-holes of pitch’n’putt.
Ludo Bar, Cardiff
This ‘tidy’ temple of televised sport only opened last October but it has already established a strong following among sports fans of all persuasions.
Grab a beer from a very respectable range of local breweries before sliding into a booth to watch your chosen match on request.
Or, alternatively, bask in the glow of the UK’s largest ultra high definition screen in the garden – complete with a retractable roof.
There are even TVs in the toilets, which you won’t miss a moment of the game.
Ben McFarland & Tom Sandham, The Thinking Drinkers, recently rode a tandem bike from Land’s End to John O’Groats to ‘help save the British pub’. Watch the “Great British Pub Ride” on their YouTube Channel here.