England kick off their World Cup campaign tonight
Inside The Jug, in Newcastle-under-Lyme
A North Staffordshire pub has banned football shirts – and is not screening World Cup matches. The Jug – on Bridge Street, in Newcastle-under-Lyme – is celebrating its live music and remaining a World Cup-free zone.
It comes as England kick off their World Cup campaign against Croatia tonight. The football shirt ban will be lifted following the end of the World Cup.
In a social media post to drinkers, The Jug stated: “We are not a sports bar and we will not be showing the football during the tournament. We absolutely wish all of the home nations and supporters well and we hope everyone enjoys the tournament safely and respectfully. However, from experience across the licensed trade and from national policing figures, football fixtures can unfortunately bring an increased risk of disorder, tension, and avoidable incidents.
“Because of this, we have made the difficult decision that football shirts, national team tops, club tops, and other football colours will not be permitted inside the pub until after the tournament. This applies to everyone equally, regardless of which team or country you support.
“Our priority is to keep the pub relaxed, welcoming, and safe for all customers and staff. We know this may disappoint some people, but we hope you understand that this decision has been made to prevent problems before they happen, not because we are against football or against any supporters. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”
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