Swanage in Dorset is gearing up for England’s World Cup quarter final match against Norway, with pubs preparing to pull in the crowds.
Under special licensing laws for the duration of the World Cup, a 10 pm kick off for England on Saturday 11th July 2026 means that all pubs can carry on serving until 2 am – and many in Swanage have taken advantage of the opportunity.
Flags add to the atmosphere as the White Horse pub prepares for England’s quarter final match
Partying crowds all weekend
Flags have been hung, beer orders have been upped and extra TV screens commandeered to cater for the crowds expected to stay out in Swanage until the early hours of Sunday morning.
And as the game coincides with the annual Swanage Jazz Festival, the town looks set to be filled with partying crowds throughout the weekend.
One of Swanage’s most popular pubs, The Globe, has been packed as they and their customers have followed England’s journey in North America and hope it can continue right up to the World Cup final.
Former customers of the pub Paul and Hannah Jameison, Martin and Sharon Patterson and Nick, Sue and Nicola Honess decided to run The Globe themselves when the lease came on the market in spring 2024.
They have since overhauled the historic building, giving their cellar room a new thatch for the first time in 400 years, and installed a massive marquee in the beer garden which is ideal for special events like the World Cup.
The Globe Inn’s garden is popular on a sunny afternoon
The Globe Inn has invested in a huge marquee with three screens for a summer of sport
“I find it all too stressful!”
Hannah Jameison, of The Globe Inn, said:
“We showed England’s friendlies before the World Cup began, all of the group matches and now the knockout games too, and we have had amazing support from our regulars.
“Tables have been fully booked almost immediately for match nights, we get people queuing outside the door to come in and the further we have gone in the competition, the busier we have got.
“We were even open for the Mexico match which started at 2 am, though we kept the noise down to a minimum to make sure we didn’t upset our neighbours – there were only cheers when England scored!
“If England can keep Haaland under control – and I think that Dan Burn should be able to mark him out of the game – then we can win on Saturday night and perhaps go all the way.
“Unfortunately, I can’t sit and watch the game, I find it all too stressful and there’s always a lot to be done to help the pub run smoothly!”
The East Bar chose to show England’s 2 am Morocco match and is now looking forward to better timed games
The restaurant Smoke on the Water on the lower High Street, flies the flag
“Thanks for believing in us”
Hannah added:
“The Globe is continuing to go from strength to strength, we’ve put up a huge marquee outside and this has been the perfect summer to enjoy sunny evenings outside with a drink, it has already paid for itself many times over.
“It has given us a lot of extra space, and with added seating and some extra TV screens inside and outside, we have had some evenings where there has been standing room only.
“It’s an amazing atmosphere and proves what we knew when we took over The Globe – that towns and villages are crying out for real pubs with a smiley welcome, run by the community for the community.
“It is really humbling how much people love it and enjoy what we are doing here. We have had people thank us for what we have done, but thanks should really go to the locals for believing in us and supporting us.”
There’s a big outdoor screen near the entrance to the beer garden at The Village Inn, Ulwell
A huge following
At the other end of town, The Village Inn at Ulwell has also seen its indoor and outdoor spaces packed with football fans during England’s World Cup run.
Although they were unable to show the Mexico match due to nighttime noise curfews, England’s evening games have had a huge following.
Despite being at the heart of Ulwell Holiday Park, The Village Inn is open to all – and with TV screens in large dining and seating areas inside and established, sheltered gardens to enjoy the summer nights in, more and more town folk are discovering its charms.
Brian Gate at The Village Inn bar is looking forward to welcoming Swanage residents as well as visitors to Ulwell Holiday Park
“Open to all Swanage residents”
Brian Gate, of The Village Inn, said:
“We will be as busy as any other venue in Swanage for the match with Norway, and although a lot of them will be our visitors and guests at the holiday park, we are open to all Swanage residents and are delighted for them to use our amenities.
“Our garden is wonderful, we have an outside bar and if you go through the garden we have a big children’s playpark as well.
“We have made a lot of improvements here in the last three years, with the development of the new beer garden, the refit in the Village Inn which has been getting busier and busier,, and a new reception and offices.
“That allowed our old shop to have a fresh new refit and become our new coffee shop, The Pantry, and our former offices became a new Spar shop, a general store to serve North Swanage as well as our guests on site.”
The Red Lion has set up a 75 inch outdoor TV and is also hosting jazz musicians Sarah Bolter and Jazz Knots over the weekend
The White Horse in the High Street is showing the England vs Norway match live
Other Swanage venues will show the game
Among other Swanage venues opening for the World Cup match include High Street venues the Royal British Legion, the Red Lion, the White Swan, the White Horse Inn, and the East Bar.
The Swanbrook Bar and Restaurant on Kings Road West, formerly the Con Club, is also showing every England match live.
The Red Lion in the High Street is also hosting music events for the Swanage Jazz Fringe Festival over the weekend, featuring Sarah Bolter and Slinky, Jazz Knots, and Sarah Bolter and Not Just Jazz Quintet.
Some town centre shops are also getting into the mood by decorating with England flags
General store Nixons enters into the spirit
Further information
- Follow the Globe Inn and Ulwell Village Inn on their Facebook pages
- A full lineup for the 2026 Swanage Jazz Festival is on its website
