Away End Recommended Pubs: How We Curate the Best Pre & Post Match Venues

Whether it’s a pint before kickoff or a debrief over drinks after the final whistle, the matchday pub is a vital part of the football away day experience. But finding the right one — welcoming, well-located, and actually open on Saturdays — can be hit and miss. That’s where we come in.

At Away End, we’re building a proper guide to the best pubs near football stadiums across the UK — and we’ve already reviewed over 1,200 venues to make it happen. Here’s how we choose which ones make the cut.

What Makes a Pub ‘Away End Recommended’?

Our aim is simple: find pubs that away fans actually want to visit. That means:

• Welcoming atmosphere for visiting supporters — not just tolerant, but genuinely friendly.
• Walking distance to the ground or easy via public transport.
• Football-ready: screens, early opening hours, and room for groups.
• Solid food and drink — and prices that won’t ruin your weekend.
• Great reviews, especially those from real travelling fans.

We’re not looking for posh wine bars or quiet Sunday lunch spots. We’re looking for buzzing, football-savvy venues that get what fans need.

How We Curate the Best Matchday Pubs

We’ve approached this with a clear method and a focus on quality over quantity. Here's how we narrow down the list:

Step 1: Clear Out the Clutter

We start by filtering out:

• Non-pubs (restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, etc.)
• Places closed on Saturdays
• Venues with poor ratings (under 4.0 on Google)
• Pubs more than 1.5km from the ground
• Places that don’t serve beer — yes, that happens

This helps us keep the focus on actual football pubs near stadiums, not just anything nearby.

Step 2: Look for Football-Friendly Reviews

For the remaining venues, we go through Google reviews and look for clear football signals:

• Mentions of away fans
• Phrases like “pre-match pint” or “great for matchday”
• Notes about big groups or fans being welcomed

A pub doesn’t need 500 reviews — just the right ones.

Step 3: Manual Overrides

Some pubs that failed the filters still came highly recommended in reviews from travelling supporters. If a place clearly has strong matchday potential, we add it back — with notes if something’s unusual (like limited Saturday hours).

Step 4: Final Sense Check

We manually review the final list for anything odd — like strange hours, missing details, or venues that just don’t feel right. Only then does a pub get the Away End Recommended badge.

Why This Matters to Away Fans

Time is short on away days. You don’t want to waste time wandering or end up somewhere that doesn’t welcome fans in colours. Our goal is to make sure you find a solid, reliable pub close to the stadium — every time.

It’s not just about logistics. Great pubs help shape the culture of football travel. They create stories, friendships, and the kind of memories that stick. Supporting those places — and sharing them — helps keep that culture alive.

Help Us Keep It Fresh

Pubs change. That’s why the Away End app includes features that let fans contribute:

• Vote on matchday pubs ahead of away games
• Flag any out-of-date info
• Tip us off about a great new pub

Together, we can make sure the guide stays current, honest, and useful for every travelling fan.

Try It Out

The Away End app is free and growing fast. Check your next away game, find a proper pre-match pub, and help shape the experience for others.

We’ve done the legwork so you can enjoy the beer.

Download here:

📲 Apple App Store

📲 Google Play Store

FAQ: Away Fan Pubs & Matchday Guides

What makes a pub good for away fans?
Pubs that welcome visiting supporters, serve beer, have a good matchday atmosphere, and are close to the ground.

How do you find pubs for football away days?
We reviewed over 1,200 venues, filtering by proximity, ratings, and Google reviews mentioning football, away fans, or matchday use.

Are your pub recommendations updated regularly?
Yes — we use both manual checks and community feedback to keep everything up to date.

Do you cover all clubs in the UK?
We’re starting with the EFL expanding down the pyramid into non-league as the community grows. At present, we are not serving the Premier League - Away End is focused solely on lower leagues and wider football pyramid where attendances matter and clubs a tied more closely to their local areas.

Know a brilliant pub we’ve missed? Fancy a pint and a chat? Get in touch:

In-App via the contact page, or "+ suggest info" buttons to propose fixture attendance figures.

r/Away-End Join our Reddit Community.

contact@awayend.co.uk for those who prefer good old fashioned email!

See you at the bar 🍻