Fans wanting to watch England’s Euros football final tonight on a big screen have been fuming over Boxpark’s profiteering, with charges of more than £420 to book a table of six for the big match.
Ripped off: Boxpark is charging £422 for a table of six for tonight’s big game
Boozepark opened in 2016 next to East Croydon Station as a food and bar venue, thanks to hefty subsidies from the local council.
It has busily promoted itself since as “the” place to go for big football tournaments, releasing livestream video of punters’ celebrations to broadcasters, as gallons of over-priced lager is frequently thrown into the air every time an England goal is scored.
With manager Southgate’s three lions making it to the final in Berlin tonight, bidding to end 58 years of hurt, the private company that owns the venue has clearly seen an opportunity to pile on their own profits, charging £42.75 for entry to individual punters, for the privilege of paying even more for their drink and food. The entry fee includes a £10 food voucher – just about enough to buy a soggy burger.
One fan posted on Twitter: “Looked at Boxpark prices for Sunday and just laughed.”
Another wrote: “Oh my god I didn’t know it was that expensive! And to get drenched in god knows too.”
One potential punter had clearly been there before: “Boxpark is genuinely one of the most unappealing places in the UK and I’ve watched England games in pubs in St Helens.”
As well as the individual ticket deal, Boxpark are asking £422 for a group of friends to book a table for six – which works out at £70 a head.
“Boxpark charging £422 for a table of six to watch the finals, might as well fly to Berlin,” wrote one. On Wednesday night, soon after Palace’s Marc Guehi and his teammates had beaten the Netherlands 2-1 thanks to the spectacular last-minute strike from Ollie Watkins, return air tickets to Berlin this weekend were available online for £300.
“Just go to a pub,” was the advice of another England fan.
The Spain v England European Championship final in Berlin is being televised by BBC and ITV this evening, free of charge.
Three bottles of Fuller’s Pride in Lidl on Church Street will cost you less than £6.
Or you could stroll along and support your hard-working local pub with a few of your mates, enjoy the evening (results permitting) and not feel like you’ve suffered a mugging in central Croydon.
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Publishing an update tomorrow to say how few people watched the England defeat at Booze Park ?!
Probably not.