A popular Dallas pub catering to England supporters was temporarily shut down after massive crowds overwhelmed the venue during World Cup festivities, prompting intervention from fire officials and police.
The Londoner Pub at Mockingbird Station became a gathering point for hundreds of England fans ahead of the national team’s World Cup group-stage match against Croatia, drawing crowds that packed the restaurant, patio, and balcony areas.
According to reports, supporters purchased more than 5,000 beers during celebrations leading up to the match, though the pub later disputed the reported sales figures, saying the estimates did not account for property damage and landscaping damage.
Crowd Draws Police Attention
British media outlets reported that the venue reached its maximum capacity Tuesday night as fans draped in St. George’s flags gathered for pre-match festivities.
Supporters reportedly remained at the pub until late in the evening, with police officers responding after concerns were raised about the size of the crowd. The Dallas Police Department told CBS News Texas it received a 911 call regarding the gathering but said officers neither arrested anyone nor ordered patrons to leave.
Reports indicated that many fans remained outside the venue after the interior was cleared, chanting, singing, and socializing for several additional hours.
While some incidents of minor property damage were reported, including plants being thrown from a balcony and soccer balls striking nearby vehicles, no arrests were reported.
Witnesses also said many supporters assisted staff with cleanup efforts after the event.
Fire Marshal Orders Closure
The situation escalated on Wednesday when the Dallas Fire Marshal ordered the pub to close for the remainder of the day.
In a statement posted on social media, the business announced: “We are closed for the rest of the day, on order of the fire marshal.”
The pub thanked customers who recognized the challenges posed by the unusually large crowds.
“Thank you to those of us who saw the mayhem that descended upon us and understand we did our very best to manage the situation,” the statement said.
The business also disputed reports about revenue generated during the event.
“The sales are overinflated in reports and do not account for the destruction of our property and landscaping,” the statement continued.
Overcrowding Cited
According to Dallas Fire-Rescue, the establishment was cited for overcrowding after inspectors determined the venue was operating at more than twice its approved occupancy limit.
Fire officials said management attempted multiple measures to reduce attendance levels but encountered resistance from patrons.
“Management acknowledged that they had lost control of the crowd and decided they were going to shut down,” Dallas Fire-Rescue said in a statement, WFAA reported.
Officials added that fire inspectors did not object to the decision because they believed that closing the venue was the most effective way to address overcrowding.
An employee told local media that customers were standing on tables, damaging property, and that patrons had effectively “drank the place clean.”
World Cup Fever Hits North Texas
The gathering reflects the influx of international soccer fans arriving in North Texas for the FIFA World Cup.
England defeated Croatia 4-2 on Wednesday at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, with goals from Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Marcus Rashford, as The Dallas Express reported.
The Londoner has emerged as an unofficial headquarters for England supporters during the tournament, attracting large crowds before and after matches.
Despite the disruptions, the pub said it planned to reopen at 11 a.m. Thursday, and thanked patrons for their support as it worked to recover from the unusually busy World Cup crowds.
