England fans to embrace German tradition by sinking Euros pints at corner shops as locals demand stores stay open late
ENGLAND fans heading to the Euros are set to embrace the local culture – by quaffing pints in CORNER SHOPS.
The trend in big cities, such as Berlin, Munich and Cologne is to head to your nearest store – known as a “Späti” – grab an ale, then sit out on picnic benches with pals.
Counters are usually equipped with bottle openers to assist – a far-cry from the pint of milk and tin of beans dash Brits associate with corner shops.
Locals say it is a great way to stay local, keep costs down, enjoy the open air, and bag a wider range of beers than most bars can offer.
But footie drinkers may still need to get their heads around sessions in the same place they would usually buy their butter or beans.
German journalist Kai Feldhaus said: “I think it is a very traditional thing.
“People would start buying stuff from corner shops, which are called ‘late shops’ or ‘Spätis’ in Berlin and Western Germany, when the supermarkets closed.
“They would come and buy the basics, and then maybe have a drink as well. Then supermarkets started opening late, but it survived.
“You can sit outside a bar, you can sit outside a pub – but you can also sit outside a corner shop.
“It is a good place to go for a quick beer, because people walk in and out, you meet people, its a really nice thing to do.
“In Berlin especially it is really common. These are the best places.
BBC and ITV's Euro 2024 line up in full
Here's how each channel will line-up:
BBC presenters:
Gary Lineker, Alex Scott, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman
ITV presenters:
Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods
BBC pundits:
Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Rio Ferdinand, Ellen White, Frank Lampard, Ashley Williams, Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Frank, David Moyes, Rachel Corsie and James McFadden
ITV pundits:
Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Graeme Souness, Eni Aluko, Ange Postecoglou, Danny Rohl and Christina Unkel
BBC commentators:
Guy Mowbray, Robyn Cowen, Vicki Sparks, Steve Wilson, Steve Bower and Jonathan Pearce
ITV commentators:
Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Seb Hutchinson, Pien Meulensteen and Joe Speight
BBC co-commentators:
Danny Murphy, Martin Keown, Jermaine Jenas and James McFadden
ITV co-commentators:
Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist and Andros Townsend
“There has been a huge discussion about corner or late shops closing on Sundays, and there has been a lot of protest against that because it is the easiest way to get a quick beer.
“Bring it on the road to walk somewhere, to the next location.
“I hope England fans will enjoy the corner shops, and I am pretty sure they will because England fans like their beer on the way to the game. So this is made for England fans for the Euros.”
The word “Späti” comes from Spätverkaufsstellen – which means “late shopping outlet”.
Street drinking is commonplace in Germany – with drinkers gathering on footpaths and squares outside pubs until late, while taking a bottle of Becks on trains or trams is also considered perfectly normal.
The practice even has a name – “Wegbier”, which translates to road beer in English.
Up to half a million British fans are expected to head to games in Germany – a figure that could rise to 800,000.
England’s biggest ever fan exodus kicked off Thursday as it was revealed 350,000 trips are planned to Euro 2024 in Germany.
Roaring behind Harry Kane and the gang are supporters eager for a boozy break from the drab election coverage and early summer washout.
With the tournament being a quick flight away, at least 40,000 people were anticipated in the first wave of The Great Escape this weekend, ahead of England’s opening match against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.
UK Football Policing Unit director Mick Johnson told The Sun: “This is the first major tournament England fans have been able to travel to since 2016 and a lot of fans want to come to Germany to join the party.
“At the World Cup in Germany in 2006, around 300,000 travelled but the figure is estimated at around 350,000 this time, so it is something of a record.”
Asked about the election, he laughed: “That has to be the main story on why the fans want to get away — you can’t turn the TV on without seeing it!”
Tournament veteran Simon Harris, who helped manage the London England Fans supporters club, said: “There’s a whole new generation of young fans ready to travel. There’ll be lots of singing and drinking beer.”
Feeling Blue?
BRITISH troops kept the French football team awake from all-night war games.
Troops from the 19th Light Brigade drilled with cannons, assault rifles and flash bang grenades for three nights in a row — as the team headed by Kylian Mbappe, tried to rest.
Locals were furious to hear the loud noises at 3am from the British-run base in Sennelager, Germany.
The Blues moved into a hotel in Bad Lippspringe just a mile away on Wednesday.
A source in the French camp said: “People have said it’s like being in a war zone.”
The Army said they had planned the exercise months in advance.