10 best pubs to watch the footy

Euro 2004 kicks off this week which means the pubs will be packed with fans across the capital. But where are the best ones to see the footy? We track down our ten favourites...

Alexandra

14 Clapham Common Southside SW4 7AA
Despite its somewhat uninviting exterior, this sprawling, three-floor Victorian boozer by Clapham Common tube is actually rather good. Noisy it may be, but it's a useful rallying point, with efficient service and a friendly crowd (and upstairs, where it's less hectic, you might even get a seat).

Balham Tup

21 Chestnut Grove SW12 8JB, tel: 020 8772 0546
A friendly, if often quite raucous place to hang out at weekends, to watch the football or for Sunday lunch.

The Bedford

77 Bedford Hill SW12 9HD, tel: 020 8673 1756
There’s not a lot this pub doesn’t do - weekly discos, comedy nights, dance lessons and a giant TV screen have made this large Balham boozer a notable local venue. A great place to catch the game.

Café Kick

43 Exmouth Mkt EC1R 4QL, tel: 020 7837 8077
Football is what this tiny, shack-like café-bar is all about. There are a number of fusball tables, and the décor (like the TV) is wholly devoted to the Beautiful Game.

Freemason's Arms — Drury Lane

81-82 Long Acre, London WC2E 9NG
Barely off the beaten track of touristy Covent Garden, this large pub -- appropriately named, given the proximity of the Masonic Grand Temple -- is decorated in a simple but traditional style. Greene King ownership may account for an unusually strong 'regular' following.

Prince of Wales — Blackheath

1a, Montpelier Rw, London SE3 0RL
Lovely pub right on the edge of Blackheath Common, where you can play the beautiful game after having watched it. Great beer garden, conservatory and parlour, where football and rugby is shown

Shoeless Joe’s

33 Dover St W1S 4NF | Tel: 020 7499 2689
This celeb-backed chain of brash sports bars -- which at its height had branches dotted around town -- has dwindled until its represented by this single Mayfair branch.

Sports Café

80 Haymarket SW1Y 4TQ, tel: 020 7839 8300
It might be full of suits and city boys, but the Sports Café is one place where you are guaranteed football action. And there's even waitresses in netball skirts to serve you beer. Pure class

Spot, Maiden Lane

29 Maiden Lane WC2E 7JS , tel: 020 7379 5900
A late licence, a myriad of happy hours, tons of space, footy on a big screen, budding Pop Idols on Sundays and plenty more besides.