The World Cup is back, and watching every game alone on the sofa gets old fast. Across Swindon and Wiltshire there’s plenty going on this June and July if you want to be around other people while the football is on. Here are six ways to make the most of it.
Pub Garden Screenings Across Swindon and Wiltshire
A lot of pubs in the area are putting big screens up outside, which is the obvious move if the sun’s out. You get the atmosphere of a crowd without paying for a ticket, and someone else does the cooking. Most are free to walk into, though the popular ones fill up fast for the bigger fixtures.
The thing to watch out for this year is the kick-off times. Because the tournament is being co-hosted across the USA, Canada and Mexico, UK kick-offs run from 5pm BST right through to 5am BST, and the BBC reckons almost half of group stage matches kick off after midnight here.
Some venues are staying open into the early hours for the bigger fixtures. The Government’s extended licensing rules cover knockout-stage matches when England or Scotland are playing, but for group-stage games and other late kick-offs, pubs need to apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to serve beyond their usual hours. You may want to ring ahead to check, especially if you’ve got your eye on a particular match.
World Cup Pub Quiz Nights
Quiz nights have leaned into the football this summer, with rounds on past tournaments, famous goals and players nobody can quite remember the name of. They’re a good shout if you fancy a night out that isn’t just staring at a screen for two hours straight.
These tend to run on the quieter weeknights when there’s no major game on, so they fill the gap nicely. Get a team together, even just two or three of you, because the picture rounds always catch people out.
Local Five-a-Side Tournaments
Watching is one thing, but plenty of people get the itch to actually play once the World Cup starts. Local leisure centres and clubs around Swindon, Chippenham and Trowbridge are running five-a-side tournaments through the group stages in June and into the knockout rounds in early July.
You don’t need to be any good. Most of these are casual, friendly affairs with mixed-ability teams, and they’re a cheap way to spend an evening with mates. Some venues let you enter on the day, but the better-run ones want you signed up in advance.
Having a Flutter With Friends
Half the fun of a World Cup is backing a hunch and seeing if it comes off. Whether it’s picking a group stage upset, calling the top scorer or just having a side bet with your mates on the next England game, a punt sharpens your attention in a way that just watching doesn’t.
If you’re new to it or just dipping in for the tournament, picking up some free bets from licensed bookmakers is a low-risk way to get started. Most of the major sites run sign-up offers around the World Cup, and it means you can test a few predictions without reaching for your wallet straight away.
In-play betting is where a lot of the action happens now, so you’ll see odds shifting on your phone while you’re watching in the pub. It’s easy to get carried away when the game’s live, so set a deposit limit before the tournament starts and stick to it.
All the licensed UK bookmakers carry tools for that, including time-outs and spending caps, and they’re worth using. Treat it as part of the entertainment, not a way to make money, and it will add a nice edge to the whole experience.
Family-Friendly Football Events
Not everything is about the pub. Parks and leisure centres across Wiltshire are laying on family days with mini kickabouts, penalty shootouts and the sort of activities that keep younger kids busy while the grown-ups watch the football. Five Rivers in Salisbury and the Link Centre in Swindon are usually good shouts for this sort of thing, and smaller market towns like Devizes and Melksham often run their own kickabouts on the rec.
These are usually low-cost or free, and they’re a relaxed way to get children into the tournament. Keep an eye on your local council and community Facebook pages, as a lot of these events get announced fairly last minute.
Match-Night Food and Drink Deals
Plenty of venues are matching their offers to the fixture list, so you’ll spot World Cup meal deals, sharing platters and match-night happy hours popping up. It’s a handy way to make a night out a bit cheaper when you’re watching several games a week.
The deals often line up with the earlier kick-offs, so they suit anyone who doesn’t fancy staying up past midnight. Check what’s on near you before you head out, as the offers change week to week as the tournament moves on. The good news is that the later rounds get friendlier for UK viewers. The semi-finals and the final all kick off at 8pm BST, so the biggest games of the tournament land in prime time.
Make the Most of It
The World Cup only comes around every four years, and there’s no need to spend the whole thing on your own at home. Whether you fancy a pint in a pub garden, a kickabout with mates or a quiet quiz night, Swindon and Wiltshire have got something on. Pick a few and enjoy the summer of football.
