It’s kick off! Where to watch the World Cup….

A mural in Shoreditch. Picture: Anna Haswell

Whether you are in Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Lewisham or Croydon, there is somewhere you can grab a drink and prepare for ninety minutes of football in the company of fellow fans – whoever they support. East London Lines has checked out the best places to  meet up with fellow fans to watch the games and get in the spirit of the globes biggest sporting competition.

As the flags and pennants flying from cars and hanging from windows testify, people from almost all the 32 nations represented in the World Cup – from Slovenia to Cameroon, from Mexico to North Korea – are to be found among  the diverse and different communities throughout our East London Lines area.

Over the next four weeks they will be found in pubs and bars, cafes and community centres, gathered around television sets, cheering, commiserating and perhaps celebrating together as they follow the fortunes of their teams. And, of course, some might even be supporting England.

But whether your shirt is green and gold, red and blue or white and green and whatever the outcome, Londoners will know that they  have shared with each other in the world’s greatest sporting contest.

Along this map are just some of the many places showing the games along the East London Lines area.  And if you know of any we have not listed, then please email us using the form on the Contact page.

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Starting up in Stoke Newington (a bus-ride from Dalston but buses are frequent): Bar Lorca may favour Spanish football, but the bar and restaurant will be showing big games throughout the tournament. This is a family friendly place usually heaving with babies and toddlers at the weekend. The food is wonderful but not cheap.

Ryan’s will be following England, and comes complete with two big screens and a beer garden.  Is there any more a thirsty footie fan could ask for?

Thai food and televisions are available at the Coach and Horses.  So eat and watch as much as you want to your hearts content!

Yucatan Bar has been described as having  a “great community atmosphere…especially when watching the football,” while there is also a garden for that half-time analysis session.

If you are watching the big games with your family, then White Hart is the place for you to go.

Moving up to Dalston proper: Obalenda Suya is where the Nigerian community come together to cheer on their team and enjoy the company of their fellow countrymen and dine in some Nigerian cusine.

England’s first Cameroonian pub Victoria Chez Tah Ndi will be serving up local chicken and fish dishes whilst the games are on. To get there turn right out of the station. Its a five minute walk to Queensbridge rd.  So don your green, red and yellow kit join London’s Cameroon community.

Flags outside the Basing House of Shoreditch. Picture: Anna Haswell

Shoreditch High Street’s Bar Kick are showing up to three games a day, with 3D available in the basement for you modern types.

Rich Mix in Shoreditch are opening their doors to the World of Sport, letting out tables of twelve with complimentary food and drink and private screenings.

In amongst an array of arts and music, The Big Chill Bar on Brick Lane will be showing every game from every country for your viewing pleasure

In the heart of Spitalfields is the Pride of Spitalfields, where you can watch your country with a bunch of cockney geezers and hopefully have an East End knees-up afterwards

Fine Line sits prettily by the river near Canary Wharf, with an amazing view and probably a few fans enjoying the World Cup

An extensively decorated football pub comes in the form of The Albion in Bethnal Green, with a few servings of pub grub to see you through those dreaded penalty shoot outs.

Barracuda on Houndsditch is in the perfect place for city workers to catch the football and grab a bite, or maybe have a little boogie after the whistle blows.

Hobgoblin in New Cross has a friendly atmosphere, plenty of screens dotted around the place, and an extensive menu of delicious thai food to meet everyone’s tastes.

Brockley’s  Sweeney’s Café is located amongst a parade of local shops along Ewhurst Road.  The café is slightly hidden, so if you don’t want to encounter riff raff, this may be the place for you.

Off the Brockley beaten path stands one of the oldest on our list, The Wickham Arms.  This pub will be offering deals on drinks, as well as an American style barbeque and live blues session during the England vs USA game.

Now onto Forest Hill: Stanstead Road’s Blythe Hill Tavern has plenty of ale on tap, screens showing non-stop sport and you may even catch a session of Irish music.

Last but not least, the borough of Croydon has some very popular bars always providing a good night out.  Smack bang inbetween the Whitgift Centre and Fairfield Halls is Spread Eagle, which offers traditional British home cooked food, and a candlelit area for a romantic meal to celebrate a World Cup win.

Now to the middle of town, Tiger Tiger on Croydon High Street is a popular hot spot in the area, restaurant by day and club by night.  But they will be showing games galore in the next few weeks and are offering private rooms for hire with eight foot screens.

Yates is also located on the High Street, and has seven plasma screens as well as four big screens, showing every big game from South Africa.

We have two Riley’s pool and snooker bars on offer for you here, one just off of the High Street (Frith Street), and the other off of Purley Way on Imperial Way.  So wherever you are in the borough you should be able to drink a pint and scream at a referee thousands of miles away.

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