A pre-match pint is part of the ritual for plenty of supporters, but drinking near Stamford Bridge on a match day comes with a few unwritten rules that are worth knowing before you set off. The area around the ground is tightly packed and the pubs fill up quickly, often well before kick-off, and a good number of them operate as home-only on match days. That means door staff will check tickets and, for away fans in particular, the strong chance of being turned away if you are wearing the wrong colours. The trick is knowing which pubs are which.
The Butcher’s Hook
Any list of pubs near the ground has to start with the Butcher’s Hook, which sits on the Fulham Road almost directly opposite the main entrance to Stamford Bridge. Its claim to fame isn’t just that it’s a nice boozer near the ground. Back when it was called the Rising Sun, this is the pub where Chelsea Football Club was founded, on the tenth of March 1905. That history makes it a popular first stop and it tends to be more welcoming to both sets of supporters than most of its neighbours, though on the bigger games it gets rammed and you should not count on getting in late.
For Home Fans
If you are there to watch Chelsea, you are spoilt for choice within a short walk of the turnstiles. The cluster of pubs closest to the ground, the likes of the Tommy Tucker on Waterford Road, the Chelsea Pensioner and One Fulham Broadway near the station, as well as the King’s Arms and Broadway Bar and Grill on the Fulham Road itself, are the traditional home-support places to head to and get lively long before the game. A little further out, the Cock Tavern on the North End Road is another well-worn pre-match haunt.
The thing to be ready for is the door. On a match day, many of these pubs put security on the front and will ask to see a match ticket or a Chelsea membership card before letting you in. That is partly to keep numbers under control and partly to keep the crowd home-only. Colours are Chelsea colours or none, rival chanting is not welcome and the busiest places may simply stop letting anyone in once they are full. It is all part of the atmosphere, but it catches out newcomers who turn up close to kick-off expecting to be able to just stroll in for a quick pint.
For Away Fans
If you are following the visiting side, the honest advice is not to try to drink in the shadow of the ground. The pubs closest to Stamford Bridge are the ones most likely to be home-only and checking your credentials on the door, so turning up in your team’s shirt is a quick way to be sent on your way, or worse. You are far better off staying near your point of arrival and drinking a little back from the stadium. The Earl’s Court and West Brompton areas, both a fairly manageable walk and only a stop or two away on the District line, are the usual answer to the question of where to head for a drink for away fans.
Bigger, more mixed pubs, such as the Blackbird and the Courtfield around Earl’s Court, are used to away supporters and are far more relaxed about it. They also have the added bonus of sitting right by the stations that you will want to head to for the journey home. Wherever you end up, it pays to keep colours low-key until you are closer to the away turnstiles and to take your cue from how the locals are dressed. We all know you’re proud of supporting the club that you follow, but showing that off too close to Stamford Bridge is likely to result in some abuse being hurled your way.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
Whichever camp you fall into, a bit of planning saves a lot of hassle. Get there early, because the good spots are full well before kick-off and it doesn’t take long for the queues at the bar to grow long. Expect card-only service and door checks at the busier places, keep an eye on the time, given how quickly the streets clog up close to the ground as kick-off approaches, and remember that pub policies can change from game to game depending on the fixture and the size of the away following. When in doubt, a bigger pub further from the ground is almost always the easier option.