'Euro Tournament and Patios is great timing': Soccer Fans enjoying province's reopening of outdoor dining
Moving into phase one of Ontario's reopening plan comes at the perfect time for soccer fans.
Outdoor dining was permitted the same day UEFA European Football Championship tournament started.
"We've got the TV out here (on the patio) which is good," says Billy Thomson, general manager of The Scots Corner in London, Ont.
"We can't get as many people in as we'd like to because we can't get inside yet, but we're doing the best we can and everyone's enjoying themselves.”
The British pub is headquarters for many soccer fans in the city, and the patio was full Sunday morning as England took on Croatia in Euro 2020.
"This is a dream for football fans, and this is the way of getting back to the world given the circumstances of COVID and everything," says David Halfacre, an England supporter.
"The Euro tournament and patios, it's really great timing.”
Across the city at Highbury Avenue, and Oxford Street, Amjad Abdul Hamid was setting up his pop-up trailer full of soccer jerseys, flags and car decals.
"We do this every two years for the Euro and for the World Cup but having the tournament delayed by a year has been tough on business," says Abdul Hamid, who runs the trailers with his father.
"We had to pay a lot more storage because of COVID but it's good for the community to be able to enjoy this after being in lockdown for a long time."
Amjad Abdul Hamid sets up his trailer full of soccer gear on Highbury Ave in London, Ont. Sunday June 13, 2021. (Brent Lale/CTV London)
Abdul Hamid says the majority of his gear in London is sold to Portugal and Germany supporters.
"People need something to enjoy right now because there's not too much of that so this stuff helps everyone get a smile on their face,” he says.
Back at The Scots Corner, David Grassie was among a group of friends who were cheering on England on the patio.
"All of us can come out now, socialize, and that was the biggest thing because we never had a chance to get together as friends or as a family," says Grassie.
"We can watch England play, sit together and we haven't had a pint for about six months, so it's great that we can enjoy ourselves,” he says.
Grassie and the other fans went crazy when Rahim Sterling scored for the 'Three Lions' in the 57th minute to give England a 1-0 win in their opening match.
Thomson says the patio will be first come, first serve for the daily soccer matches.
"You're only allowed four to a table at the moment, but hopefully everything goes well and we get to that second phase and they bump into six people per table, which will help us out," says Thomson, who has eight tables on the Dundas Street patio.
The pub won't open for all the 9 a.m. games but they will be there Monday morning when Scotland takes on the Czech Republic.
Fans are most excited for next Friday's round two match when England faces Scotland for the first time since 2017.
"It's a big game they haven't played each other in a long time," says Thomson. "We'll be busier, it's a shame that we can't be inside and have full capacity where the place would be rockin' but we'll take what we can get and get as many people in here watching the game as we can on Friday.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.