Kent pub to stop showing football after brawl goes viral
A two minute long video shows a group of men laying into one another as onlookers and a pub security guard try to break up the fight. Other punters are seen jeering and throwing pints.
Command House, in Chatham, Medway, will not show any more World Cup games nor any other football matches after a fight broke out on Tuesday (3 July), with individuals brawling, standing on tables, and yelling.
The video has now been viewed almost 3m times on Facebook, with viewers calling those in the crowd “pathetic” and "adults acting like children”.
The cause of the fight is not made clear in the video.
In a statement on Facebook, the Georgian-era pub said staff had liaised with the local police about keeping punters safe, but decided to stop broadcasting matches after Tuesday’s brawl.
'Not prepared to continue'
The statement said: “We’ve had a very constructive and supportive meeting with the Medway police licensing team who are happy to work with us to continue showing the World Cup, however, we have taken the internal decision that, despite the support and encouragement of the police licensing team, we are not prepared to continue to provide this service.
“Medway has now lost it’s opportunity to watch football tournaments, in what is one of it’s best outside spaces, because of the actions of a handful of idiots.”
The Command House boasts riverside views and hosted hundreds of football fans to watch World Cup games in its beer garden.
The pub caused controversy when it announced it would charge £50 for six ‘VIP’ tables closest to the screen for Tuesday’s match.
The pub will also be closed all day on the day of the next England match, when England take on Sweden on Saturday (7 July) in the quarter finals.
'Closed all day'
They said: “We’ve also taken the decision to give the staff some much needed time off, after all of the hard work and effort they’ve put into the games so they can enjoy the forthcoming game at their leisure.
“We will be closed all day on Saturday 7th July.”
A spokesperson for Kent Police said local officers attended the situation.
“No offences or complaints were disclosed, and no arrests were made,” they added.
