Washington pubs willing England to go all the way in Euro 2020 to provide post-lockdown boost

Gareth Southgate’s side seems likely to have Washingtonian and former Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford between the sticks, adding some extra local interest, with fellow Wearsider Jordan Henderson also in the squad.

Kick-off is on Sunday, June 13 at 2pm, and for pubs the European Championships represent an opportunity to claw back revenue following an extremely difficult 15 months due to coronavirus.

All the pubs have the correct Covid procedures in place, such as track and trace, rule-of-six and table service.

The Wheelhouse in Albany, which has inside and outside areas, is one of the venues hoping for England to go as far as possible in the tournament; and not just because they are football fans.

Manager Joanne Wood said: “We’re really looking forward to it. People are just happy to be back and there’s a summer buzz as well as the football coming back.

“It’s just great for business after what we’ve been through. It’s all people have been talking about; along with when we can go back to normal completely.

“England have a good, young team and hopefully we’ll get to the final. But then again, it’s England!

“At the last World Cup the buzz got bigger the further England got. So let’s hope they go far this time too.”

The Wheelhouse will be suitably decked out and t-shirts and scarves are up for grabs. Walk-ins are possible, but booking is advised.

The Ox & Plough in Oxclose and Honest Boy in Blackfell have drinks offers before England kick off. The NE38 sports bar in Barmston is offering pints for as little as £2 while the match is on.

The Washington Arms and Cross Keys, both in Washington Village, are showing the game indoors and taking bookings. The Victoria Inn on Oxclose Road is taking walk-ins, but bookings are required for food.

At the Biddick Inn on Bonemill Lane, tables are allocated first come first serve. Sky Lounge on Oxclose Road has 20 tellies, plus a huge projector. Most Washington bars are showing all the games and customers are advised to ring for details.

Support your Echo and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on SAFC and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.