From a castle ruin to historic baths - unusual places to watch the World Cup

From a castle ruin to historic baths - unusual places to watch the World Cup Just now Share Save Add as preferred on Google George Sandeman BBC The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner, which means fans will be packing into pubs, bars and living rooms to cheer on their favourite teams. And while a trip to a bustling, multi-screened pub remains a popular choice, there are more unusual settings in which to get your football fix. From a wedding venue to historic baths, we've rounded up the most fun locations to watch the action. Victoria Baths - Greater Manchester Through stained-glass windows you can peer into the Victoria Baths and see the faded grandeur of a public pool Mancunians enjoyed for nearly a century - but you won't see any water in it now. Instead, you'll find a massive screen and booming speakers towering over the far end of the empty pool - its sloping floor ensuring a good view for those at the back. There'll be a long bar in the next room and food trucks in the car park just outside. Round the corner, a pop-up goal. Flags will be draped from the mezzanine balconies with DJs on the decks. Victory at the Baths promises to have it all - as long as everything goes to plan for organiser Jack Nunes before England's first match on 17 June. He only came up with the idea a couple of months ago, after chatting to a mate with whom he plays 11-a-side. "We don't have the experience but we have the enthusiasm," he tells me. Mancunians enjoyed the public swimming pool for nearly a century What a pane: One of the stained-glass windows in the baths shows a man dribbling a football across a pitch GUIDE: Everything you need to know PLAN: How to follow the tournament on the BBC EXPLORE: All 48 squads confirmed DOWNLOAD: The World Cup 2026 wallchart Jack thinks he can fit 500 people into the Victorian building, with plenty of space for everyone - but there's a lot to think about. "I've had to sort a huge carpet for the swimming pool, which is around 170 metres squared." Why? "Well, hopefully, when Tommy Tuchel's brave boys put seven past Brazil, there'll be lots of beer flying everywhere - but the minute you spill liquid in there... it becomes like an ice rink." Speaking of beer, Jack has sorted deals with Jubel and the Manchester Union Brewery. As for the food, he's got local traders lined up. As the afternoon sunshine pours in through a stained-glass window, it illuminates a century-old design of a man dribbling a football across a pitch. "Watching England games here, it's almost as if it's meant to be." How much? Tickets are £10, but discounts are available for groups Hastings Pier - East Sussex This kind of logistical challenge is something Mark Graham has decades of experience to fall back on. He worked in music festivals and events for 25 years before striking success with football fan parks. His first events were for the Euros in 2021, including a watch party at another historic venue: Hastings Pier. The South Coast attraction was one of