BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The European Soccer Championship was Sunday, July 14. Fans in Arkansas gathered at a local English pub to watch one of the biggest soccer games of the year unfold.
The Botanical at 8th and A's owner Alan Gooding said he wanted to make visitors feel like they were back in England.
"We've tried to just create the traditional pub feel," Gooding said. "When you go in there, there's plenty of plants, there's plenty of natural light, there's plenty of wood and things like that. So we've tried to replicate the English pub the best we can."
Gooding moved to Bentonville from England 11 years ago, but he felt like there was something missing in the community. To bring a feeling of home to Arkansas, Gooding opened a pub last September.
"There was one thing missing in Northwest Arkansas," he said. "We've got some great sports bars, but not really the focus on international sports — soccer, rugby and cricket and a few other things that we do — especially at the time zones that some of them are shown. So it seemed like a little bit of a gap in the market."
He feels like he's replicated his home country well.
"I think it's because there's such a fun group of us together," Gooding said. "We get to sing the familiar songs and, you know, we've got English beers, and we get together and get a little silly, just like we would do if we're back home. So that brings that kind of at-home feeling for the games."
European natives living in Arkansas agree.
"I'm actually from Spain, and I just moved to the area, so I love how this bar kind of brings people from all around together, all around the world to watch sports that otherwise you wouldn't see in any other American bars," Slyvia Marques said.
"Just a really good old fashioned English bar that plays all the matches," Jenny Duran said. "You can come down here, have a few drinks. Have a good time with friends, and it's just really easy going."
"It's a family-friendly bar," Joe Campbell said. "My wife and I come in here with our son all the time."
Spain went on to beat England 2-1, winning the European Soccer Championship.
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