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<\/p>\nNew research from small business insurance provider Simply Business shows UK independent pubs could lose up to \u00a3197m during this summer\u2019s international football tournament. With around 1.1 million fewer fans heading to their local, late-night kick-offs are the main culprit.<\/p>\n
This is why we\u2019ve launched our The Best Seat in the House campaign, with Arsenal icon Ray Parlour, to rally support for community pubs.<\/p>\n
This summer\u2019s big football tournament should be a goldmine for Britain\u2019s pubs. Tournaments usually mean packed bars, flowing pints, and a real boost in takings for independent locals. But that\u2019s not how things are shaping up.<\/p>\n
Newly commissioned research from Simply Business reveals a worrying trend. Around 1.1 million fewer people are expected to watch a game at the pub this summer. The result? Independent pubs could miss out on as much as \u00a3197m in revenue.<\/p>\n
So what\u2019s keeping fans on their sofas? And what does it mean for the publicans already battling rising costs? Here\u2019s what the research found.<\/p>\n
Late kick-offs are the biggest factor. And while the UK government announced pubs could stay open until 1am to show England and Scotland games, our research shows just how much match timings affect where fans choose to watch.<\/p>\n
More than a third (37%) of people planning to watch in the pub said they\u2019d draw the line at games kicking off after 8pm. That figure rises sharply to over half (57%) for matches starting after 9pm. And nearly three-quarters (72%) said they wouldn\u2019t head out for games kicking off past 10pm.<\/p>\n
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won\u2019t watch a football game at a pub past 8pm<\/p>\n
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won\u2019t watch a football game at a pub past 9pm<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Circles-03.png\")
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won\u2019t watch a football game at a pub past 10pm<\/p>\n
Money worries are also playing a part. Among those planning fewer pub visits:<\/p>\n
35% said they\u2019re actively cutting back on social spending<\/p>\n
27% said they simply can\u2019t afford to go to the pub as much as they used to<\/p>\n
Put simply, later games and tighter budgets are a tough combination for pubs hoping for a tournament boost.<\/p>\n
Research conducted by OnePoll UK on behalf of Simply Business in June 2026 surveying 2,000 respondents.<\/p>\n
How much money could pubs lose this summer?<\/p>\n
Independent pubs could collectively miss out on up to \u00a3197 million during the tournament, according to our research. That\u2019s a significant blow for a sector already under real pressure.<\/p>\n
Pubs often rely on big football tournaments to bring in extra footfall<\/a>. When that doesn\u2019t happen, the gap in takings can be hard to recover. For small, independent venues running on tight margins, every match matters.<\/p>\n The best seat in the house<\/p>\n We\u2019ve launched The Best Seat in the House to rally the public behind their local pubs when they need it most.<\/p>\n The campaign officially kicked off at The Bricklayer\u2019s Arms in Putney, London on 16 June 2026. We\u2019re calling for you to pledge to watch a game at your favourite independent pub \u2013 and the pub with the most nominations wins a \u00a35,000 prize.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a simple way for football fans to give something back to the venues at the heart of their communities. A few clicks online could mean a real financial lifeline for someone\u2019s local.<\/p>\n Nominate your local pub<\/p>\n You can pledge your support through the Simply Business website<\/a> and filling out the simple pledge form. The pub that gets the most nominations will receive the \u00a35,000 grant.<\/p>\n Every pledge sends a clear message that these community venues are worth fighting for.<\/p>\n Why has Ray Parlour backed the campaign?<\/p>\n To support the launch, we teamed up with Arsenal icon Ray Parlour. Parlour previously co-owned his own pub and is a lifelong champion of community venues.<\/p>\n Speaking about the campaign, Parlour said: \u201cPubs and football go hand in hand. There\u2019s nothing quite like being in your local, cheering on your team, and celebrating with friends and strangers alike over a last-minute winner.<\/p>\n \u201cI know first-hand what it takes to keep a pub going and right now landlords are fighting harder than ever just to keep the doors open. Alongside other small businesses, these aren\u2019t faceless organisations; they\u2019re people who\u2019ve put everything into serving their communities and they need our support.\u201d<\/p>\n For Parlour, the message is clear: \u201cThere\u2019s no better place to watch the football than your local. It\u2019s simply the best seat in the house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know first-hand what it takes to keep a pub going and right now landlords are fighting harder than ever just to keep the doors open.<\/p>\n \u201cAlongside other small businesses, these aren\u2019t faceless organisations; they\u2019re people who\u2019ve put everything into serving their communities and they need our support.\u201d<\/p>\n Ray Parlour What do pub landlords say about the challenge ahead?<\/p>\n Chris Walsh, landlord at The Bricklayer\u2019s Arms<\/a>, knows the pressures first-hand. For Chris, running a pub goes far beyond pouring pints.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat independent pubs like ours are the absolute beating heart of their communities. There\u2019s an unmatched magic when everyone gathers under one roof to cheer on a team and there\u2019s nowhere quite like the pub during a massive summer of football.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reality is that the hospitality industry is facing an incredibly tough period ahead. Initiatives like Simply Business\u2019s \u2018The Best Seat in the House\u2019 campaign are a lifeline, giving independent pubs a real boost right when they need it most. So, please go online and nominate your favourite pub \u2013 it would really mean the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Help protect your pub<\/p>\n Showing the football in your pub this summer? From a slippery floor to accidents in your beer garden, our licensed premises insurance for pubs<\/a> can shield you from expensive claims, starting with public liability cover.<\/p>\n Promotion<\/p>\n Why do independent pubs matter so much?<\/p>\n Independent pubs are more than places to grab a drink. They bring people together and support local economies across the country.<\/p>\n Julie Fisher, UK CEO of Simply Business, explained why the campaign matters: \u201cIndependent pubs play a unique role in society, contributing enormously to the strength of both our local communities and economy. With publicans usually seeing a boost in footfall during international football tournaments, this summer\u2019s late kick-offs will prove another challenge for owners operating in a difficult environment.\u201d<\/p>\n Fisher summed up the spirit of the campaign: \u201cCharacter, community, charm \u2013 like all small businesses, independent pubs offer a unique experience that should be cherished. That\u2019s why we\u2019re reminding the British public that, this summer, the \u2018best seat in the house\u2019 really is at your local.\u201d<\/p>\n What else is affecting UK pubs?<\/p>\n Ready to set up your cover?<\/p>\n As one of the UK\u2019s biggest business insurance<\/a> providers, we specialise in public liability insurance<\/a> and protect more trades than anybody else. Why not take a look now and build a quick, tailored quote?<\/p>\n This content is for general, informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice. Please obtain expert advice from industry-specific professionals who may better understand your business\u2019s needs.\u00a0Read our full disclaimer<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New research from small business insurance provider Simply Business shows UK independent pubs could lose up to \u00a3197m…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":641409,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[59,57,58,50,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-641408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-united-kingdom","tag-gb","tag-great-britain","tag-greatbritain","tag-news","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/641408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=641408"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/641408\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/641409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=641408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=641408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=641408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Footballer](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-15-at-16.08.43.png\")
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Ex-England internal player and former pub owner<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SBLogo_White_Long@2x.png\")
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