Haven't People Got Tvs At Home?

[New Judge]

What is this strange obsession with wanting to watch football on the telly in a pub? Surely it's more comfortable at home (with the added advantage that you don't annoy anybody else).

[New Judge]

//Perhaps try visiting a pub that doesn't have a TV? There are many thousands available.//

There aren't that many, actually. But pubs are inappropriate places to show live football. There is specific legislation aimed at controlling the behaviour of spectators at football matches and clubs operate under guidance which determines that they keep opposing fans separated. There are obviously clearly recognised problems associated with attendances at matches. All this goes out of the window when a match is shown on TV in a pub.

[youngmafbog]

'Spoons dont have anything, excellent boozers.

[Arksided]

NJ, you're clearly not the clientele the pub wants to attract... why go there? It's not difficult to know when a games not being shown.

What if you live alone and can't afford to go see the game and enjoy the atmosphere of fellow supporters.

No stay at home for the sake of a few selfish individuals.

[dustypuss]

Our local spoons have tv,s . But only show sport,s like golf or tennis. Never football.

[Arksided]

Sounds a hoot, I'll be sure to avoid it. ;-)

[Zacs-Master]

NJ, over the years you’ve expressed your dislike of large swathes of the general public on here. This is just another example of you being somewhat out of kilter with most of society.
It comes across as rather elitist to condemn the enjoyment of the majority as they are adjudged to be upsetting your enjoyment for a short time.

[New Judge]

//'Spoons dont have anything, excellent boozers.//

//Our local spoons have tv,s . But only show sport,s like golf or tennis. Never football.//

Alas you are both incorrect. First of all there is this:

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/uk-news/wetherspoons-pubs-england-football-change-27331972

And this:

https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/events/summer-of-sport-2023

And my own personal anecdote. Two days ago I met up in London with a few of my Old Git mates at one of the better ‘Spoons in the City. To my dismay, upon arrival at about noon, the Ladies’ Semi-Final was on. The pub was not particularly crowded (many establishments in the City have been quiet since Covid) but there was a group of about five or six people, huddled in front of the TV screen, shouting and yelling at the action. Strangely I went there to enjoy what pubs are for - to socialise. But that was all but out of the question until the final whistle. The six of us who had gathered (and the remainder of the customers bar the footy fanatics) were more than relieved when they all filed out at about 1pm.

//It comes across as rather elitist to condemn the enjoyment of the majority as they are adjudged to be upsetting your enjoyment for a short time.//

The football lunatics were by no means the majority. I imagine they made up no more than about 20% of the clientele at most at noon, and a much smaller proportion than that by 1pm.


//This is just another example of you being somewhat out of kilter with most of society.//

Well I wasn’t out of kilter with my five mates and nor, from my observations, with the remainder of the pub. I don’t think I am by any means alone when I suggest that live football is not appropriate in pubs.

[barry1010]

My local 'spoons is to be avoided term time between 9:15 and 14:30. It seems to be a mother and toddler group with the mothers taking advantage of the 'bottomless' hot drinks.

[Arksided]

So you have personal experiences with football fans... boo-hoo poor you maybe next time you should announce your presence before entering.

[johnny.5]

are we just watching to see who has the biggest boobs?

[Arksided]

Another thing NJ The football lunatics who are you calling there exactly... fans without tickets you can NOT tarnish every football fan in such a derogatory manner.

[bhg481]

I didn't hink that watching football was so painful that you had to be drunk before you could bear it. Someone on TV pointed out that you can go to the pub and have a coffee whilst watching if you like watching in a crowd.

[Ryzen]

Cheap food..cheap beer and rowdy customers..whodathunkit. NJ you need to upgrade your choice of venue or downgrade your expectations.

[Zacs-Master]

Or find a planet where you and your mates can reside in privileged seclusion.

[New Judge]

//..you can NOT tarnish every football fan in such a derogatory manner.//

I can and I have.

[Buenchico]

As others have said, it's all about 'shared experience'. That's why people buy tickets for concerts when they can't even see the performers:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-66449789

[tomus42]

//There aren't that many, actually. //

Yes there are. You need to get out more m'lud.

[douglas9401]

I don't know about 'shared experience' so much, more validating their slavish devotion to a group of grown men chasing a ball for money.

If I was in a pub when NJ was there I'd probably ask if I could join him so we could make catty remarks about noisy oiks. :-)

[rowanwitch]

I know loads of brilliant pubs that don't have TVs, ( or only have a separate TV bar, ) no jukeboxes or slot machines. Where you can get a wide range of really good well kept ales, stout and porters. I Struggle with loud noise when I am out so I look up the good beer guide if I am going somewhere new, or ask people I know for recommendations.