The Three Lions, an English pub in Trondheim, Norway, is experiencing unprecedented demand to screen the World Cup quarter-final match between England and Norway. The pub, run by British expat Adrian 'Dougie' Douglas, has been inundated with more than 2,500 requests for reservations for the game.
Douglas, who has owned the pub for 27 years, described the situation as unlike anything he has witnessed previously. Fans have been arriving as early as five hours before England and Norway games, with queues of over 150 people forming outside. The pub is preparing to host between 180 and 190 patrons for the match.
The pub has a long history of screening international football, having been a central venue for sporting events in Trondheim for nearly three decades. Douglas noted that licensing laws have been adjusted, allowing the pub to remain open until 7 a.m. for matches.
He anticipates a highly energetic atmosphere for the England versus Norway game, describing it as a "dream come true" given his dual allegiances. While Douglas, 57, is a supporter of his birth country, England, his family has ties to Norway, where he met his wife Ruth. His five children have mixed allegiances, with the older two supporting England and the younger ones backing Norway.
Douglas, originally from Cambridgeshire, expressed gratitude for his life and business success in Norway, attributing it to hard work and the support of locals. He highlighted that Norwegians are generally "nice and humble people" and that the country has significantly contributed to his personal and professional life since his arrival in 1999.
The pub offers 48 burgers, each themed around a country participating in the FIFA tournament. Douglas mentioned that other establishments in Trondheim, including hotels and wine bars, are also broadcasting the match. The quarter-final match is scheduled for Saturday night, with England playing Norway at the Miami Stadium.