The Lionesses only went and did it. This weekend will be their first major tournament final since 2009 after beating Sweden 4-0 last night, and featuring ‘that goal’ from Alessia Russo. Poetry.
So pubs and bars across the region will be bracing themselves for the game this Sunday, in which they’ll go into battle with either France or Germany, to be decided tonight. The tournament has been a winner for hospitality too, with over £100 million spent on booze, food and merch, as well as a staggering 11 million pints sunk.
So with that in mind, here are some of the best spots in the city in which to bellow Sweet Caroline until you’re hoarse.
READ MORE: The city's very best beer gardens
Piccadilly Gardens
First off, it would be remiss not to suggest the city’s Euros hub - Piccadilly Gardens, which was transformed into a ‘festival of football’ ahead of the tournament’s kick off earlier this month. The screen will be up and the tension mounting as the final beams in from Wembley. As with all match days so far, festivities will kick off at 11am, with all kinds of extra-football activities happening from face painting to football demos, and with a wealth of food and drink available too.
Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, M1 1RN
The Brotherhood
Stylish sports bar The Brotherhood - The Brotherhood of Pursuits and Pastimes, to give it its full moniker - unofficially changed its name to The Sisterhood for the duration of the Euros. Such commitment should be repaid by heading here for the final, whereupon you can watch the match and stuff yourself with wings, burgers, dogs and sarnies while you’re at it. You can reserve tables too, so get to it.
2 Mount St, Manchester M2 5WQ
Brewdog Outpost
Hoovering up the potential student crowd is the Brewdog Outpost on Oxford Road. Grab yourself a burger, a heap of wings or their plant stack and wash them down with a decent selection of craft beers while the Lionesses have at it.
144 Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9GP
Nell’s New York Pizza and Bar
Beer and a slice or two is surely up there with the best possible accompaniments for a world class final, and you can get that all day long at Nell’s new-ish standalone outpost just over the canal from the Village. They’ve been showing all the matches in the tournament too, so this ain’t no cash in, they’ve been in from the ground floor.
20 Minshull St, Kampus M1 3EF
Box Deansgate
With a screen quite literally everywhere you look, you won’t miss a second of the final at the smart The Box on Deansgate, even by accident, and all in glorious HD too. Be quick to book a spot, and you can shower yourself in loaded fries, pizza, ‘babs, burgers and subs. There’s even a bottomless brunch to get the day started.
25 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2LH
The Hive
Out of town, but just a hop from the Stretford end, The Hive tucked into Stretford Mall will be showing the final, as well as serving up some solid pub grub, from wings and ribs to steaks and burgers.
Unit 124, 125 Chester Rd, Manchester M32 9BH
Common
Not only will Common be screening the match, they’ll be celebrating the Lionesses reaching the final with £4 pints, £4 cocktails, wine for £15, prosecco for £20 and £3 shots. Couple that with giant Nell’s pizzas (or, for the slightly more modest, by the slice) and you’re onto a winner.
39-41 Edge St, Manchester M4 1HW
The Beagle
Common’s sister bar The Beagle over in Chorlton will also be showing the match on the big screen, and also offering the same booze offers and big slices all day long - so £4 pints, £4 cocktails, wine for £15, prosecco for £20 and £3 shots.
456-458 Barlow Moor Rd, Manchester M21 0BQ
Port Street Beer House
For those wanting to watch the match while also having one of the best selections of craft keg and cask beers in the city, you could do considerably worse than heading to the Port Street Beer House.
39-41 Port St, Manchester M1 2EQ
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