ONLY a single Premier League stadium has no pubs around it – and the reasons has nothing to do with football fans.
Enjoying a drink and sampling the pre-match atmosphere is customary for many football supporters on a Saturday.
Luton Town’s Kenilworth Road will host Premier League football this year after securing promotion from the Championship last season.
The new-boys have been forced to spend around £10million on ground improvements in order to move in line with league regulations.
But amid all the upgrades, the 188-year-old stadium’s nearest pub is more than a mile away.
All 19 other Premier League stadiums have at least one venue local to the ground, but Luton differs.
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Online guides for away supporters recommend The Bricklayers’ Arms close to the train station – more than a mile from Kenilworth Road.
Other suggestions are based in the town centre, a similar distance away.
Repubblica journalist Antonello Guerrera visited Kenilworth Road for the first time this week and detailed his experience.
He told of how there are no pubs close to the ground due to its location being in a largely Muslim neighbourhood.
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Mr Guerrera wrote: “Kenilworth has another unique feature: it’s the first stadium I’ve seen in England that doesn’t have any pubs nearby: the closest is over a mile away.
“The stadium is in an overwhelmingly Muslim neighborhood, as are the names of the shops. But that’s not the only explanation.”
The latest Census data shows the overall population of Luton increased by 22,000 people between 2011 and 2021, a rise of 11 per cent.
Figures taken from Luton Borough Council also shows the number of people identifying as Muslim rose from 49,991 to 74,191 in the last decade – up 48.4 per cent.
The town has a non-white majority of 54.8 per cent, the data adds
The journalist also explained he had been informed by Luton Town historian Roger Walsh told him: “There are no pubs in the area because before the many Asians there were Quakers.”
Quakers, the name given to Religious Society of Friends, are part of a Christian movement that believe in “equality, peace, truth, justice and simplicity” – and many are teetotal.
They have taken an active role in demonstrating on climate change in recent months.
Luton had been due to host Burnley in their Premier League opener tomorrow, but were forced to postpone because Kenilworth Road won’t be ready in time.
Instead, the club’s first home match of the season is set to take place on Friday, September 1, against West Ham.
The stadium has become famous for its unique entrance to the away end.
The entrance has been cut into a road of terraced houses, with fans walking up stairs overlooking a number of gardens.
Residents told The Sun they can watch games from their attics – but life in the stadium has a downside.
Mum-of-four Anu, 52, said: “My son’s bedroom in the attic enables him to see a bit of the ground so he can sometimes see the games.”
She added that families on the Luton street used to get complimentary passes to games – before the pandemic put an end to the free tickets.
But aerial photos taken last month showed how the ground resembled a building site.
Half of the pitch is covered by workers’ vehicles and materials.
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Much of the Bobbers Stand is having to be rebuilt following promotion.
New media facilities and camera positions are having to be installed ahead of their Premier League debut.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
