THOUSANDS of Furness football fans will be heading out to the pubs this summer as Euro 2020 takes centre stage.

England’s first game in the competition is on Sunday and a fully-booked beer garden at Barrow Raiders’ Craven Park will be cheering on Gareth Southgate’s side.

Club chairman Steve Neale is delighted by the number of bookings and said they could have welcomed many more if restrictions allowed.

Mr Neale said: “We have sold out - there will be 120 tables and potentially 720 people watching the big screen here on Sunday.

“We could have sold about five times over. With the amount of interest we could have had 5,000 people but there are still Covid restrictions.”

“We want people to enjoy themselves while they are here and hopefully England win.”

Residents will also be able to watch the games at Barrow AFC’s Fan Zone.

However, it will not just be football on offer at the venue.

Bluebirds Trust chairman Frazer Stewart said: “We are really excited to be showing the Euros at the Fan Zone.

“The bookings for the England games are going really well with the Scotland game already being sold out.

“Not only can fans enjoy the football, we will also have a BBQ going from Shepherds Butchers and DJ Gaz Killip playing pre-match to get the atmosphere going.”

With some pubs opening their doors again recently, the Euros will hopefully provide a much-needed boost.

Lynda Henderson, landlady at The Ambrose Hotel, said: “We only reopened a few weeks ago and we are just hoping it will be busy.

“I have put some decorations up for it and will be operating a first-come, first-served basis. Once the tables are gone, they are gone.”