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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Daniel Jae Webb & Laura Sharman

Pub refusing to show England games has to turn away confused fans in Christmas mix-up

A pub refusing to show any football is having to turn away England fans who mistook its Christmas present exterior for a St George's flag.

The Greyhound Inn was wrapped in a giant red ribbon on Sunday ahead of the festive period.

But confused Three Lions supporters think it's a large England flag and have been coming in to watch World Cup games - which the boozer doesn't show.

At least a dozen footie fans have turned up hoping to enjoy a pint in front of the TV so far, with more punters expected to arrive on Friday when England plays the USA.

Greyhound landlady Nikki McNulty, 39, put up the Christmas decorations over the weekend with her husband Graeme and pub staff, while enjoying a glass of mulled wine or two.

"Probably about a dozen people have been in asking about watching the football but we've had to turn them away", she said.

The pub is designed to look like a Christmas pressie (DANIEL JAE WEBB/ SWNS)

"I think it's quite funny now, looking back. First of all I was thinking 'oh goodness, how can I make it look more like my vision was'.

"I can see why they'd think that [it looks like the England flag], but it's made everyone have a little giggle which is what everybody needs at the moment when times are so tricky.

"I think it's brightened up the market square with all the bad weather."

Nikki said the pub is restaurant-orientated nowadays and the only people watching the World Cup are the kitchen staff who are allowed to stream it on their phones during less busy periods.

Nikki said she is known as the Christmas Lady (DANIEL JAE WEBB/ SWNS)

The landlady said she's nicknamed the 'Christmas Lady' locally and is known for her decadent displays at the pub in Wilton near Salisbury, Wilts.

"They all call me the Christmas Lady around here," she said.

"As November hits, I want to put everything up and make everything really festive," she said.

"Each year I like to do somefthing completely different, so I thought this year I'll make the pub look like a giant present. Well, that was the plan.

"The next day, it's all over Facebook and all over the local community group chat saying 'oh how lovely is it that The Greyhound are supporting the football.'

Three Lions supporters think the pub is decorated with an England flag (DANIEL JAE WEBB/ SWNS)

"So we had to politely say we won't be showing the football."

The World Cup 2022 started in Qatar on Sunday at the Al Bayt Stadium, with the hosts losing 2-0 to Ecuador.

Its November kick off marks a significant break from the usual tradition of playing in June and July and coincides with the European club offseason.

The tournament was partly moved due to the extreme temperatures in host nation Qatar.

It is the first World Cup held in the Middle East and the second in the Asian football confederation after the World Cup in South Korea and Japan in 2022.

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