Hartlepool rugby club ready to embrace football as part of beer festival weekend

West Hartlepool Rugby Club’s eighth West Beer Festival is to take place on the weekend of July 6 and 7.

Should England’s national football team win their second round match in the World Cup, they will play in the quarter-final of the competition on one of those dates.

The rugby club will feature all of the World Cup quarter-finals in its Stag Bar across the weekend.

The rest of the club and main pitch at the ground will be taken over by the beer festival.

For the first time, the event will feature a gin bar in addition to the main bar, which will stock 30 real ales and include a wine bar, cider bar and lager bar.

Organisers are promising a weekend to remember, regardless of the outcome of the football.

Beer Festival organiser Dave Picken said: “We are naturally hoping that England make the quarter-finals and will play on either the Friday night or Saturday afternoon.

“Regardless, we’ll have our TVs tuned in so everyone can enjoy the sport and some exotic drinks.”

Entertainment in the clubhouse on Friday night will be provided by Stockton band The Phat Tyrtles, who have a big following thanks to a set which includes some of the best-loved songs from the 1960s.

Saturday will see music on the outdoor stage provided by talented youngsters from Creative Minds in the afternoon, followed by The CC Band, Swilly Chill and The Finetimes, who are playing one of their last gigs as their lead singer is moving away.