British and Irish Lions Brisbane: Pubs brace for 40k-strong army

For the first time in 12 years, the British and Irish Lions rugby union juggernaut has hit town for a Test match against the Wallabies.

Footy fans Archie Barker, Genevieve Playford, Lewis Verhoeven and Bart Dingle gear up for the British Lions versus Wallabies game at the Lord Alfred Hotel on Brisbane’s Caxton Street. Picture: Lachie Millard

Welcome to “State of Origin on steroids”.

For the first time in 12 years, the British and Irish Lions rugby union juggernaut has hit town for a Test match against the Wallabies, with Brisbane’s pubs and bars bracing for an absolute onslaught from up to 40,000 footy fans travelling with the squad.

Breweries have promised to work around the clock to keep the drinks flowing for the notoriously thirsty tourists who literally drank the town dry during their Melbourne visit in 2013, while Brisbane hotels and resorts are bursting at the seams ahead of the historic showdown.

The Lions, a virtual super team comprising of the best rugby players from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland, only assemble every four years and enjoy a fanatical following from devoted fans who are set to inject more than $50 million into the Queensland economy before they head south for the remainder of the series.

According to data from Brisbane Economic Development Agency, an incredible 93 per cent of the city’s hotel rooms have been booked for the weekend, far exceeding the numbers typically seen for Origin night or even NRL Magic Round.

The game is expected to be officially declared a sell-out by Friday morning.

On the Lions’ last Australian tour, 70 per cent of Melbourne pubs reportedly ran out of beer with Brisbane operators ordering up to three times as much booze as for a typical week.

The streets surrounding Suncorp Stadium will again be Ground Zero for the British (and Irish) invasion and Caxton Street Development Association boss Sarosh Mehta said it would be a massive few days.

“This will be like State of Origin on steroids,” he said.

“It’s going to be absolutely awesome for the traders.”

The Lord Alfred is a traditional base camp for many visitors from the Old Dart and the venue’s major events manager Luke Mellers said they were stocking up the cellar ahead of the looming rush, which has kicked off in earnest with the arrival of major tour groups over the past few 48 hours.

“We’re expecting to go through 400 kegs or 40,000 pints over the weekend which is absolutely huge,” he said.

“We’re getting beer delivered every day this week and the breweries say they are taking last-minute orders.

“We’ve tripled our staff and we’re planning for it to be our busiest weekend ever.”

By comparison, the pub goes through about 250 kegs for State of Origin.

Guinness and Magners cider are the drinks of choice for many Lions fans, with pubs across the city ensuring they have enough supplies.

The Pig’n’Whistle’s four Brisbane venues are also set to be bursting at the seams with more than 120 kegs of Guinness on standby, with healthy supplies of Heinekin, cider and local craft beers also in stock.

The Pig’n’Whistle will also run a Heineken Rugby Garden on Queen St Mall in front of Queens Plaza with a big screen, live music and food trucks serving English Spuds and traditional footy fare.

Ollie and Alfie Morgan, 4, Kirsty Roberts with Regi-James Morgan, 6, and James and Joni Passmore, 3, in Brisbane’s King George Square. Picture: Annette Dew

The last Lions tour remains their busiest-ever weekend of trade and area manager Steve Jones said the pubs’ decades-long association with touring British and Irish sports fans was ready to rewrite the record books again.

“We can’t wait to welcome a new generation of fans this weekend,” he said.

The Rose & Crown at South Bank is also getting in on the action, with owner Alex Derrick saying the pub was putting on “as many staff as we can fit behind the bar”.

“We’re going to be chockers,” he said.

Guinness and the pub’s own cask ale are set to be the top movers with extra supplies of bangers and mash, steak and Guinness pie and Sunday roast also at the ready.

Mr Derrick spent 25 years of hospitality experience in the UK and said the sports fans from that part of the world contributed to an incredible atmosphere.

“They’ve got much better songs and chants than we do,” he said.

“They’re always up for a laugh and looking for a good time.

“They certainly don’t hold back that’s for sure.”

Ian Kirk from London with Al Mylchreest from Salisbury were among the hordes who arrived in Queensland on Thursday and they headed straight to the beach on the Gold Coast in full Lions fan glory.

They will be among the capacity crowd on Saturday night as part of a three-week trip for the series.

Visiting tour groups from Great Britain and Ireland have bought tens of thousands of tickets for the three-Test series, but ex-pats living Down Under loom as an unknown ex-factor set to turn out in droves in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

Originally published as British and Irish Lions Brisbane: Pubs brace for 40k-strong army