Massive World Cup Telly Proposed But Will It Be In Time for the Big Kick-off?

Published on: 16 May, 2026
Updated on: 15 May, 2026

The Stoke Hotel Google

By Chris Caulfield

local democracy reporter

With the football world cup less than a month away, a Guildford pub is looking to install a massive 86-inch telly in its back garden.

On June 11, Mexico will host South Africa in the first match of the 104-game tournament and the Stoke pub in Stoke Road has applied to Guildford Borough Council for planning permission to install the gigantic screen.

The pub is a Grade II-listed site in the Guildford conservation area but its owner, Greene King, believes its location, size and position mean there will be no loss of historic material and that it won’t harm the building or area.

The application was submitted on Thursday, April 16 and the the council is now in a race against time if it is to be signed off in time for the big kick-off.

Aside from the June 11 start, other dates that will be at the forefront of football fans’ minds will be the three England group games.

The Three Lions first game will be on Wednesday, June 17 at 9pm UK time when they square off against Croatia in a repeat of the 2018 semi-final.

Next they face Ghana on Tuesday, June 23 at 9pm, before finishing the group stages with their Saturday, June 27 fixture against Panama, this time at 10pm.

According to planning documents, the screen’s position and form “ensure that it will not appear dominant or detract from the historic form of the property and would therefore have no impact on the special interest in the building.

“Furthermore, it would have no harm on the character and appearance of the conservation area.”

A spokesperson for The Stoke said: “We can confirm that a planning application has been submitted for the installation of an outdoor TV screen.

“The application is currently being reviewed by the council and we will update our customers when this progresses.”