How to Decorate a Pub or Club for a Big Sporting Event

Good pub decorations for sporting events do two jobs: they tell passers-by you're showing the match, and they make the room feel like an occasion once people are inside. The most effective set-up is a large flag outside, bunting across the ceiling, a flag behind the bar and a table flag on every table, in the colours of every team your customers support. This guide covers how much to buy, where to put it, how to keep it safe and how to reuse it tournament after tournament.

Start outside: be seen from the street

Your frontage is the advert. A flag that can be seen from the end of the road brings in people who hadn't decided where to watch.

• An 8ft x 5ft flag (about 2.4m x 1.5m) is the most visible size for a pub frontage or beer garden. It needs a pole of roughly 6m or more to fly properly; on a shorter pole, a 5ft x 3ft looks better proportioned. Our guide to what size flag fits your flagpole has the full chart.
• No permanent pole? A telescopic flag pole (3m to 12m) goes up without digging or concrete and can be used with a ground stake in a beer garden or car park, then taken down after the tournament.
• Wall-mounted poles project from the frontage and carry a 5ft x 3ft flag well. The aluminium flag pole and wall bracket comes in 6ft and 8ft lengths.
• Frontage bunting along the fascia, railings or the beer garden fence. Giant bunting has larger flags that read better from across the road.

Flying a flag from a pole on commercial premises can involve planning rules, which vary between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Read our guide to flagpole planning permission before installing anything permanent.

Inside: work from the ceiling down

Decorate in layers so every sightline has some colour without blocking the screens.

1. Ceiling and beams: bunting runs between beams, across the room in parallel lines, or in a zig-zag between the walls. This does most of the visual work.
2. Walls: one or two big 5ft x 3ft or 8ft x 5ft flags on the walls without screens, especially the wall behind the bar, which appears in everyone's photos.
3. Windows: flags hung inside the windows face out to the street as well as in.
4. Tables: a table flag on every table near the screens. They are cheap, take seconds to set out and let groups claim "their" table for the tournament.
5. Staff and customers: hand flags behind the bar for big moments, and a few for children in family areas.

How much bunting do you need?

Measure each run from fixing point to fixing point, add them together, then add about 10% for the drop between fixings. For a zig-zag across a ceiling, measure one diagonal and multiply by the number of crossings. Our guide on how to hang bunting covers spacing and fixings in detail.

Example: a 10m x 6m bar with four lengthwise runs needs 4 x 10m = 40m, plus 10% = 44m. That could be five 9m lengths, or two 18m giant runs and one 9m.

Pub decorations for sporting events: suggested kit by venue size

These are starting points. Adjust for ceiling height (higher ceilings need giant bunting to register) and for how many screens you have.

Mixed-nation tournaments

World Cups, European Championships and the Six Nations bring in fans of several teams. Rather than picking sides, cover everyone:

• Multi-nation bunting repeats every competing nation along the string. For example, 50-nation bunting covers most international tournaments, and there is dedicated Six Nations bunting for rugby.
• Flag packs give you a set of national flags, table flags or hand flags in one order.
• Feature the home side with the biggest flag in the room and the outside pole, and give visiting teams table flags.
• Add as you go. If a team with a strong local following goes through, add their flag for the knockout rounds.

For tournament-specific advice, see our guides to Six Nations flags and Euro 2028.

Fire safety and fixing

Decorations are combustible, and your fire risk assessment should cover them. In practice:

• Keep flags and bunting well clear of heaters, open fires, candles, hot lighting and kitchen extraction.
• Never hang anything over or around sprinkler heads, smoke or heat detectors, emergency lighting or fire exit signs.
• Keep escape routes and doors clear, and don't let bunting hang low enough to catch on heads or be pulled down.
• Use cable ties, adhesive hooks or cup hooks rather than pins near electrics, and never fix to light fittings.
• Standard printed flags are not sold as flame-retardant. If your licence, landlord, insurer or local authority requires flame-retardant decorations, confirm what is needed before you buy.

If you are unsure, talk to whoever carries out your fire risk assessment before the tournament, not on the day.

Timing your order

Order two to three weeks before the first match. That leaves time to put everything up, see how it looks and order more for any gaps. Demand rises sharply in the week before major tournaments, especially for home nation flags. Custom flags with your pub name or logo take longer, typically around seven working days to make plus delivery, so order those first. For knockout rounds, keep a few spare table flags and a lightweight flag of a likely opponent so you can react quickly.

Reuse across tournaments

Most of this kit isn't single-use. Home nation flags, multi-nation bunting and table flags can go back up for the next World Cup, European Championship or Six Nations. To get the most from them:

• Take bunting down by winding it around a piece of card or a tube to stop tangles, then label it with the length.
• Make sure flags are completely dry before storing, and keep them in a dry, dark place.
• Outside flags take the most wear. Bring them in during high winds, and consider a DuraFlag for flags that will fly for weeks at a time. See how long a flag lasts for what to expect.

Trade and bulk orders

If you buy for a pub group, brewery estate, sports club network or events company, our sister business The Flag Wholesaler supplies trade customers with bulk pricing on flags, bunting and table flags. We have been supplying flags for over 20 years and can help with quantities for multiple sites.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I decorate for a tournament?

Have decorations delivered two to three weeks before the first match and put them up the week before. Early decoration also tells regulars where they'll be watching.

What size flag should I put outside a pub?

An 8ft x 5ft flag is the most visible on a tall pole of around 6m or more. On a wall-mounted pole, a 5ft x 3ft is the right size.

Are flags and bunting a fire risk?

Fabric decorations will burn, so keep them away from heat sources and lights, and never cover detectors, sprinklers or exit signs. Check your fire risk assessment, and confirm with your landlord or insurer if flame-retardant materials are required.

Can I reuse decorations from the last tournament?

Yes. Home nation flags and multi-nation bunting are reusable if they were stored dry. Check outdoor flags for fraying at the fly end and replace any that are worn.

Can I get flags printed with my pub's name?

Yes. Custom flags can be made to any size with your own artwork, and table flags and bunting can be customised too. Avoid using tournament or club logos you don't have permission to use.

Plan your next match day

Start with giant bunting for your frontage and ceiling, telescopic flag poles for outside, and table flags for every table. For your own branding, see our custom flags.