London's best bars to watch sport

The weather's hotting up and so is the sport action, with Euro 2008, Wimbledon round the corner, and then the Olympics. So it's never been more important to find somewhere to watch these events. Chris Beanland uncovers some of the top spots for sport viewing.

SIROCCO
Sirocco has taken the sports bar and made it a bit more pleasant for all concerned. There's big leather chairs and even plants scattered around the place. We're not sure they're necessary, but there are enough Chelsea fans out there who want their air purified by leaves and their backsides comforted by soft leather. Watch a Euro 2008 quarter-final here on Thursday.
39-45 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (020 7437 0847, siroccolondon.co.uk). Screen count: 12 plasma screens with projectors, plus TVs. Pint of San Miguel, £3.50; vodka & tonic, £3.50

SPORTS CAFE
There's space for 803 people here. That equals 800 normal people, plus the entire Brentford FC fan club. It's also the official bar of the England Barmy Army cricket fan club and is open until 3am every day.
80 Haymarket, SW1 (020 7766 4687, thesportscafe.net/ london.cfm). Screen count: main bar with eight plasma screens, plus HD TVs.
Private room with six HD screens and three plasma screens. Pint of lager, £3.60; vodka & tonic, £3.40

BAR KICK
Fancy somewhere a bit cooler to watch your football? Then head to one of Shoreditch High Street's best late bars.
Watch the Euro 2008 final here on 29 June and you're guaranteed a good time. You even get (gasp) girls in here.
127 Shoreditch High Street, E1 (020 7739 8700, cafekick.co.uk/contact. htm). Screen count: six big screens across two floors. Belgian Vedett beer, £3.50; vodka & tonic, £3.10

CHEERS
As American as mom's apple pie, Cheers is US through and through. Based on the eponymous Boston TV bar, it has American beers on tap and burgers to sort out your appetite. Specialities here include sports such as American football and baseball.
72 Regent Street, W1 (020 7494 3322, cheersbarlondon.com). Screen count: four big screens, two plasma screens, numerous TVs. Pint of lager, £3.65; vodka & tonic, £3.55

WALKABOUT
Southern hemisphere hospitality abounds at the eight Walkabouts spread across the capital. Shake your jowls like Harold Bishop when the Wallabies play France at rugby in the first test on 28 June at 10am. Set your alarm and get your Victoria Bitter in at the huge Walkie on top of Temple Tube station.
Temple Place, WC2 (020 7395 3690, walkabout.eu. com). Screen count: one big screen, 27 plasma TV screens. Pint of beer, £3 (£1.50 for VB on Mondays); vodka & tonic, £2.90

SLUG
Why do the goal umpires in Aussie Rules look like be-hatted cooks let loose from a school canteen? And what's with the pointy fingers after a goal is scored? Ponder this, and many other questions about the game from Down Under at the Slug, bang in the middle of Fulham Broadway. AFL games are shown live.
474 Fulham Road, SW6 (020 7385 3209, fulhamslug. com). Screen count: seven big screens, four plasmas. Pint of beer, £3.30; vodka & tonic: £3.20

BAVARIAN BEERHOUSE
Steins of beer? Ja. Busty Bavarian barmaids? Ja. Brilliant atmosphere? You bet. It's always time for a party at the BBH, and what better place to watch Germany in their quarter-final against Portugal.
190 City Road, EC1 (020 7608 0925, bavarian-beerhouse.co.uk). Screen count: four big screens. Half a litre of Lowenbrau (0.8 pint) £3.80; vodka & tonic, £3.50

BELUSHIS
Belushi's is truly international - each of the bars lies underneath a backpackers' hostel. Very "spit and sawdust" and popular with Aussies and Kiwis. The Shepherd's Bush one has lots of cheering during the rugby.
13-15 Shepherd's Bush Green, W12 (020 8735 0270, belushis.com). Screen count: one giant projector screen, two big screens, eight small screens. Pint of lager, £3.15; vodka & tonic, £3

BARRACUDA
South African bar Barracuda is the place where London's Saffas come for a cold beer and a chance to reminisce about chucking another boerewors in the braai. It's not usually open at the weekends, but it will be on 21 June when South Africa takes on Italy in the Tri Nations rugby.
133 Houndsditch, EC3 (020 7623 7533, barracudagroup.co.uk). Screen count: one big screen, 16 smaller screens. Pint of lager, £3.40; vodka & tonic, £4.10