Owner of Irish bar that is ‘finest pub in London’ shares fact on England Euro followers
The owner of an Irish boozer regularly referred to as the “best pub in London” has lifted the lid on what it is really like hosting fans for the Euros.
Daily Star favourite Skehan’s currently sits at the top of TimeOut’s best pubs in London ranking and with excellent pints, brilliant decor, a great garden and all-round impeccable vibes, we can certainly see why.
But following the emergence of a massive brawl in a pub adorned with Euro flags, the question has to be asked: are football matches more trouble than they are worth for pubs?
READ MORE: Landlord of ‘best pub in London’ reveals secrets to the finest boozer – it’s the ‘craic’
The Daily Star spoke to Skehan’s mastermind Bryan Fitzsimons, who has made the Nunhead bar a regular fixture in the area’s must-gos to find out.
(Image: skehansfreehouse/Instagram)
The Limerick man has very fond memories of England’s run in the last Euros, which saw the Three Lions eliminated by Italy in the final.
Now, he’s hoping for more of the great vibes. “It was a shame about the result for the English, but after the lockdown, having a buzz like that it was just brilliant just being around it.
“I only watch the Ireland but seeing the English and being in that atmosphere was amazing, you know. Hopefully, now they’ll get through the qualifiers because it’s brilliant craic to be in there around it.
(Image: skehansfreehouse/Instagram)
“We take a few bits of furniture downstairs but generally the people watching it are lovely, there’s no [issues]. Everyone gets excited and throws a pint in the air but it’s kind of hilarious as well, you know. You know when people are outside when it’s sunny.”
He acknowledged that sometimes people get it wrong, “but generally everyone is so lovely when the games on, you know.
“I think we’re very lucky,” saying he felt that crowds in the pubs were getting nicer and nicer and he had no concerns over things kicking off.
(Image: Instagram/skehansfreehouse)
“When England are on, everyone’s supporting England, there’s no real trouble,” he added.
There’s a lot at stake for pubs too during big sporting events. “The first game [against Serbia on Sunday 16] was a bit of a letdown, you know, but I think it was just the timing – it was on very late a night – but I’m expecting for the other games, the ball will start rolling and people will get more excited.”
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