Pub bosses across the country, are preparing for what is being dubbed ‘Super Saturday’ as customers are expected to head to their local in droves to celebrate the royal wedding and the FA Cup Final.
It’s predicted that more than 1,000 pints will be poured per second across the country to satisfy royal wedding revellers and football fans.
In addition, Thames Valley Police have revealed that 100,000 are due to travel to Windsor for the big event, generating a predicted retail spend of £1.5m.
Lawson Mountstevens, managing director of Star Pubs & Bars commented: “We are helping our pubs get ready for the biggest party of the year.
“Pubs have always held pride of place for national celebrations like royal weddings and great sporting events for Brits. We predict it will be the busiest day of the year as people flock to their local on 19 May.”
The FA Cup final in numbers
During this season's two semi-final matches between Manchester United and Tottenham, and Chelsea and Southampton:
- Pubs were 34% busier than average in The City of London
- 31% busier in Walthamstow
- 21% busier in Hillingdon
- 11% busier in Westminster
- £8m was handed across the bar in London alone, £43.4m nationally
- Spending on takeaways increased by 12% across London, increasing by as much as 71% in Stratford, 25% in Kensington & Chelsea, and 23% in Lambeth.
- Spending on mini-cabs in the capital was also up by 7% compared to the previous weekend.
With broadcast coverage of the royal wedding getting underway from as early as 9.30am, punters are expected to head to their locals earlier than normal.
The Queen Charlotte, in Windsor, will be opening its doors to royal fans from 7am with breakfasts and is set to double staff numbers on the day.
Queen Charlotte licensee John Perry added: “We’re preparing for the biggest day of 2018 - even if the British weather doesn’t cooperate.
“We’ve had interest from all over the world and are booked out for meals. Our regulars were the first to reserve spaces, but we’ve got people coming from as far away as Australia and America. We’ll be switching over to watch the FA Cup Final at 5pm, it’s going to be full on, all day."
“Harry is a very popular royal and we’re all really excited. We’re decorating the pub like a wedding breakfast and shipping in big screens to show the ceremony and build-up live.
“We want to make being at the Queen Charlotte the next best thing to attending the wedding itself.”