FOOTBALL fans can watch the big matches on 80-inch screens and enjoy drink discounts as pubs across south Essex offer more during this year's World Cup

World cup fever is sweeping the nation and our pubs across south Essex are ready to help quench your thirst for football.

England kicks off its first match against Italy in the heat of Brazil at 11pm on Saturday night with landlords and landladies pulling out all the stops to bring the excitement and flavour of the tournament to the rest of us stuck at home.

After the Italy game, England take on Uruguay on Thursday, June 19 at 8pm and then Costa Rica on Tuesday, June 24, at 5pm.

Here's the Echo's round-up of where to watch the big games:

BASILDON BOROUGH:

The Ivory Rooms, Billericay - Live matches will be played on an 80-inch screen, with 50-inch screens and projectors around the three bars and the restaurant. On entry, every person gets a free bet on the final score, all winners get a choice between five pints of the Brazilian beer ‘Brahma’ or a bottle of Prosecco.

Blue Boar, Billericay - Two TV screens will show the live matches.

The Inn on The Green, Billericay - TV will show the live matches, special deals on bottled beers.

Prince of Wales, Billericay - new ‘sports bar’ displaying live matches on a 62-inch screen.

The Winged Horse, Billericay - Five big TV screens will display the live matches. Live band will play before the first England match at 7.30pm on Saturday. Envelope sweepstake, £5 to enter. First prize £100, second prize £60. Prizes drawn during the final match.

The White Hart, Billericay - Four 42-inch TV screens will play all the games. Drinks offers with 25 per cent off until the first goal is scored or it reaches half time. BBQ will be available during the daytime matches.

Moon On the Square, Basildon - Two TV screens screening England games.

Plough & Tractor, Basildon - Five TV screens playing England games.

The Beehive, Basildon - All the games will be shown on five 48-inch TV screens.

The Gun, Pitsea - 120-inch projector plus two TV's will show all the games.
Limited food menu available till late. Sweepstake available at £5 per entry, winner £100, runner up £40.

Quart Pot, Wickford - All the games on a 42-inch TV screen. DJ entertainment before and after as the pub stays open till 2am for the first England game. Sweepstake competition £10 to enter, first prize £150, second place £75, third £40.

Darby Digger, Wickford - Two TV screens will show England games.

SOUTHEND AREA:

O’Neills, Southend – Two TVs and one large projector screen showing every game live, you can join in with the O’Neills predictor game to win a host of daily prizes.

Churchill’s, Southend – Free entry before 10pm for all England group games, England shirts welcome. Book a private area to secure your own big screen TV, or watch on one of the standard TVs in public areas.

Varsity, Southend – Watch the whole tournament live at Varsity as they show every game on their seven TV screens and large projector.

The Cricketers Inn, Westcliff – Showing every game live on their two TV screens, one 46-inch and one 36-inch. They also have promotional offers on Carlsberg, with the chance of winning prizes, plus a sweepstake with regulars.

Mayflower, Leigh – They will be showing every game live on their 42-inch big screen TV.

Bar Blanco, Rayleigh – Get your England fix here with their on their two 32-inch screens. They will just be showing England games though.

CASTLE POINT:

Lobster Smack, Canvey - Two TV’s screens will show England games.

The Haystack, Canvey - Two 175-inch displays will show the live games in each room, additionally there are five 50-inch plasma screens. Blind sweepstake available at £5, £10 and £20 per entry. Top prizes £100, £200 and £400 respectively.

The Anchor Inn, Benfleet - 10 TV’s and 2 projectors displaying all the live games. Deals on shots available starting from £1.50.

The Bread & Cheese, Benfleet - Two 32-inch screens displaying the live matches. Sweepstake available for £5 per go, winning team gets the sweepstake money drawn on the final match.

Zack Willsher, Benfleet - All the games will be played on 5 TV's. Outside bar will be open depending on time and weather. Burger and beer deals available for £1 extra, buy six get the seventh free. Free pizza at half time.