Pledge to watch a match at your local
Send your pledge by 19 July 2026. Open to UK residents aged 18 and over. For full eligibility terms, read the full terms & conditions.
Keep the good times flowing for independent pubs
International football tournaments typically bring a huge boost to UK pubs. But late kick-offs this summer mean that many independent pubs are facing empty tables – with our research revealing that over one million pub seats could be left empty.
Which is why we’re calling on you to support your local pub by pledging to watch a game there this summer.
Win £5,000 for your favourite pub
By signing the pledge to show your support, you’ll give your local pub the chance to win £5,000 to help make up for lost revenue.
Pledging to visit your local is one way of giving pubs the support they deserve. So get your friends together, watch the football, and enjoy the atmosphere.
Own a pub? Nominate yourself and give your customers the best seat in the house.
The best seat in the house
Visit The Bricklayer’s Arms in Putney, London and enjoy the best seat in the house – approved by football legend, Ray Parlour.
“Pubs and football go hand in hand. There’s nothing quite like being in your local, cheering on your team, and celebrating with friends and strangers alike over a last-minute winner.
“I know first-hand what it takes to keep a pub going and, right now, landlords are fighting harder than ever just to keep the doors open. Alongside other small businesses, these aren’t faceless organisations; they’re people who’ve put everything into serving their communities and they need our support.
“There’s no better place to watch the football than your local. It is simply the best seat in the house.”
Ray Parlour
Ex-England international player and former pub owner
The true cost of late kick-offs across the UK
pub seats will be left empty
in potential lost revenue
won’t watch a game starting later than 8pm
Research conducted by OnePoll UK on behalf of Simply Business in June 2026 surveying 2,000 respondents.
About Simply Business
We’re one of the UK’s largest business insurance providers. Since we started life in 2005, we’ve helped three million small businesses and self-employed people find the protection that’s right for them, from builders to bakers and personal trainers (we cover landlords, too).
Nearly a million customers across 1,000 different trades trust us to support them with their insurance.
You can build a policy tailored to your business, choosing the covers that you need to help protect your business’s name.