Anfield pubs are gearing up for a massive summer of music as Anfield Stadium hosts headline performances from Foo Fighters and My Chemical Romance, following Zach Bryan's concert on June 12. Local establishments are welcoming thousands of new customers with special preparations, though an ice shortage and extreme heat pose challenges.
Soccer Suite Prepares for Cocktail Crowds
Susan Hanratty, owner of the Soccer Suite on Anfield Road, just 150 metres from the stadium, has restocked and bought extra cocktail glasses. She told the Liverpool Echo: "We've restocked and bought some extra cocktail glasses which we don't normally need when the football is on. When it's concerts people are drinking more prosecco and cocktails instead."
Hanratty added that the bed and breakfast has rooms prepared for excited concertgoers and speakers ready to play the artists' tunes. "We really enjoy it when the gigs are on because you can just feel the atmosphere building up and we have a little boogie ourselves when we're serving drinks," she said.
Ice Shortage and Heatwave Concerns
Despite her excitement, Hanratty expressed a "niggling concern" about an ice shortage following England's football match on Tuesday night. "Ice is nowhere to be found... That's a niggling concern of mine because ice is going to be necessary," she said. Temperatures in Liverpool are set to reach 38°C, with an amber weather warning in place from midnight on June 24 until 11:59pm on June 25. Liverpool FC has issued hot weather guidance for fans.
Hanratty plans to run around to sort ice and maintain a cool outside bar area. "It's all about keeping it cool for the customers in this heat because I've got a feeling people might prefer to stay inside in the cool," she noted.
The Church Prepares for Unknown Demand
Jane Williams, 54, from Tuebrook, works at The Church on Oakfield Road, a five-minute walk from the stadium. She said staff are preparing for a busy week but don't know what to expect. "We all know it's going to be a busy and hot week so everyone needs to stay hydrated and we'll be welcoming anyone who wants to come along," she told the Echo.
Williams noted that concert crowds differ from match days: "People normally prefer to come here because it's cheaper than drinking in the stadium but it's a lot different to match days because it's a different kind of customer with concerts." She added that the hot weather might lead fans to drink in Stanley Park instead of pubs.
Sandon Manager Calls Concerts 'Walk in the Park'
Danny Claeys, 42, general manager of The Sandon on Oakfield Road, said concertgoers are easier to handle than football fans. "On a busy match day we get between 4,000 to 5,000 people through the door and I think it's about 70% of that when there's a concert so for us it should be a walk in the park," he explained.
Claeys has stocked speciality drinks like IPA and craft beers for the music crowd, compared to 90% Madri on match days. He has also prepared for the heat with big umbrellas in the beer garden, air conditioning, and freely available water. "We've done all the precautions we can and now we've just got to try and enjoy the heat while we can," he said.
Claeys enjoys the different energy concerts bring. "When the Zach Bryan fans were here I didn't expect how young the demographic was... They were all absolutely lovely and it was so nice to see big groups of lads totally embracing it and wearing cowboy hats and having a laugh. The concerts bring a totally different energy to the area and it's so good for us," he said.
