The Sports Cafe in Haymarket is a vast venue that is dedicated to, you’ve guessed it, sport. It may not be the most refined of places but if you’re bored of cramming into old man pubs to see the game and you want big screens – and plenty of them – alongside cheap food and drink, all centrally located then this is the ideal spot.

The Venue
The Sports Cafe certainly stands out thanks to its vast size and utter devotion to all things sport. For people who can’t get into the bar at busy times, there are HD screens facing outwards so that revellers on the street can watch the game as well.

Upon entering, you are welcomed with cool air conditioning and wherever you look there’s a screen showing sport - they’re even above the bar so that you don’t miss anything whilst you’re getting a drink. On the ground floor there are two bars and a massive projector screen where people congregate to watch whatever sport they choose. With 120,000 channels to choose from, you can watch any form of sport out there and, as long as there isn’t a major game on, you can ask the staff to put on whatever you fancy. There is also a small restaurant on the ground floor with mini HD screens in the booths where you eat, and big screens just in case you want a better view.

After 10.30pm the downstairs turns into a club, which is open until 3am-4am and has fantastic drinks deals. Playing commercial dance, chart, RnB, hip hop and electro on different nights, it’s definitely a good place to party after all the sport has finished. Upstairs there is the Executive Box, which can be hired out; although during major competitions anyone can sit there. It has its own bar and can fit in a fair few people; however, it can be less atmospheric than being out in the main area all together, cheering on your favourite team. If you want to take a break from watching sport, why not play it instead? With eight pool tables, you can kick back and have a game or two during half time.

The Atmosphere
As is to be expected, The Sports Cafe has a raucous, high testosterone atmosphere. A whole load of men, chugging beers and watching sports makes for a very male vibe. There are sprinklings of girls sipping cocktails, but be prepared to see men in their element. Drinks are served quickly and with limited hassle as the bar staff know that they have to get them out swiftly or there might be a few shouts from the rowdy lads.

The Food
Expect lots of meat and man friendly dishes on the menu. It’s all American Tex Mex and the portions are huge. On the bar menu you can expect to find include sharing nachos, which no-one shares (£7.95), hot dogs (£4.75), potato skins (£4.75), chicken wings with BBQ and a very spicy sauce or a great range of big, meaty burgers (£7.95).

In the restaurant you get more of a selection. Starters include huge, meaty quesadillas (£4.95) and hot and spicy stuffed jalapenos (£5.35). For mains you can tackle the BBQ ribs (£12.75) or an old British fave, fish and chips (£9.45). However, when you order food in the restaurant the service can be quite slow during big match times, although it probably won’t matter too much as you’re likely to be so engrossed in watching the game you hardly notice the wait. If you’re not completely stuffed you can then opt for their American style desserts, which are full fat and delicious. Highly recommended is the banana toffee waffle (£4.25) or molten chocolate pudding to share (£5.25) - although you can easily polish it off yourself.

The Drink
The main emphasis here is beer with Becks Vier, Carlsberg, Carlsberg Export, Heineken and Stella and draught at £3.35 a pint, and bottles beers such as Miller, Brahma, Becks, Bulmers and Budvar. You can also get jugs of beers, which you can have to yourself or share amongst friends. There is a small cocktail list with the usual suspects like Long Island ice tea, Mai Tai, or a Cosmopolitan for £4.95, but watch out they are full of alcohol and totally lethal. Shooters are £2.50 and £9 for four, which tend to come out later in the night.

The wine is quite average but cheaply priced at £2.70 for a small glass and £10.60 a bottle, although most people at The Sports Cafe want beer and aren’t too fussed about the quality of the wine.

The Last Word
The Sports Cafe is a sports fanatics paradise. Great deals on food and drink and HD screens to watch all the sport, it may not be upmarket or particularly glamorous, but for a cheap and cheerful venue to watch the big games in a real lad’s environment it’s a decent choice.

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