AS BECKHAM and Co finalise their preparations for England's opening World Cup game against Paraguay in 16 days' time, Swindon's bars and clubs are gearing themselves up for some serious competition of their own.

Pubs and clubs across the town are battling it out to tempt Swindon's football fans into their establishments to watch England's matches and all are hoping to hit the back of the net with a series of World Cup promotions.

The Brunel Rooms is planning to show all of England's three group games and club owner Stephen Reid is offering fans the ultimate football experience.

"This is the first time we have ever done anything like this," he explained.

"As the World Cup is being held in Germany, the times of the matches are a lot better than they were in the last World Cup.

"We have got room for 1,000 people and we will be showing all the England games on three enormous screens. The atmosphere will be similar to what it was in the Town End 20 years ago when football was fun."

The club, which will open an hour before kick-off, has also attracted sponsorship for the screenings from Fosters and Dominos Pizza and will offer a range of drinks promotions for the games.

Walkabout, in Fleet Street, is also offering a range of promotions sponsored by Budweiser and is gearing up for a busy month during the world's biggest football tournament.

"We are open for every single game and we are expecting to be really busy," said Amanda Alexander, assistant manager at Walkabout.

And the Steam Railway in Newport Street, Old Town, will ensure that England fans do not miss a single ball being kicked after revealing they even plan to have televisions in the toilets.

"We have got the whole pub decked out in flags and we have got loads of Budweiser goodies to give away," said the Steam Railway's manager Chris Bathe. We have also got a signed 1966 England shirt, which we will be raffling off to raise money for local Swindon charities.

"We've got three plasma screens, one big screen and I'm even going to put TVs in the toilet."

Fans will also have a choice of screens from which to watch the action at Mbargo in Fleet Street including a 100ins plasma screen.

The bar also has a 1966 signed England World Cup shirt up for auction in aid of the Prospect Hospice.

England play Paraguay in their opening Group B game on Saturday, June 10, with the game kicking off at 2pm.

Their other two games are against Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, June 15 (5pm kick-off) and Sweden on Tuesday, June 20 (8pm kick-off).

Where you can watch

Here is a selection of other pubs showing the World Cup:

  • Brookhouse Farm Hungry Horse Middleleaze Drive, Swindon seven screens will show the matches and the pub is also running a number of competitions.
  • Cross Keys Inn High Street, Wootton Bassett showing all games on its big screens.
  • Tap & Barrel Manchester Road, Swindon all games are being shown on the pub's five TV screens.
  • The Abbey Mead Abbey Meads Village Centre all games are being shown on the pub's TV screens.
  • The Merlin Drove Road, Swindon Lots of screens will be showing every match, and there will also be a special Budweiser beer bottle bar and a new World Cup menu with hot dogs and burgers.
  • The Messenger Covingham Square, Swindon Showing every match on its TV screens.
  • The Nine Elms Old Shaw Lane, Swindon The pub is bringing in a 3.5m x 3.5m cinema-type screen, as well as a marquee and barbecue. There will also be bouncy castles for the kids.
  • The Windmill Freshbrook Village Centre, West Swindon one of the few pubs that has its own football stand. Punters will be able to watch every match without even having to go to the bar. Instead there will be waiter and waitress service.
  • The Worthington Sherborne Place, Swindon screens are being brought into the pub for all matches.
  • Village Inn Ramleaze, West Swindon Showing every match on its TV screens.
  • Yates Wine Lodge Bridge Street, Swindon lots of screens in the pub will show every match, and fans can even book a table. They can also order a crate of beer, so they don't miss a second of the action, by ordering at the bar.