New research has revealed the UK areas with the best-rated sports bars, with a seaside location in Sussex ranking second.
We’ve always assumed that the Betting Companies & Casinos are usually 2-5 steps ahead of others in the sports industry. Data is King! Sports betting and casino experts at FIRST dove into Tripadvisor reviews for sports bars across the UK, because apparently we needed data to tell us what any punter with a pint already knows.
They gathered all reviews for each sports bar in a given area and calculated the percentage of ratings with four or five stars, including only areas with at least 20 sports bars. Which makes sense — you can’t judge a town’s sports bar scene by a couple of dodgy pubs with one telly showing yesterday’s highlights.
Areas with the highest percentage of positive reviews were ranked as having the best sports bars, though we all know the real test is whether they’ll still serve you when your team’s getting thrashed. (Note: while reviews have a general indication of quality, they are unmoderated in the sense that Google, Trip Advisor, Yelp, and others will not remove bad reviews that have nothing to do with the quality of the bar but are just personal angst. I’ve spoke with many bar owners and that is a HUGE problems for them. On story has a waitress hooking up with a male customer (off hours) and his girlfriend wrote a scathing review that had nothing to do with the quality of the bar. Platforms need to moderate and cleanse this of more accurate bar ratings and a better value for bar owners’ venues they promote)
Gosport takes the lead position, with 84.57% of its sports bar reviews giving at least four stars. This naval town knows how to do proper hospitality — 22 establishments in Tripadvisor’s sports bar category, with 5,366 total reviews and 4,538 giving at least four stars. That’s the kind of consistency that would make any manager jealous.
Brighton claims second place, with 82.43% of its sports bar reviews giving four or five stars. The seaside city’s got 21 sports bars listed on Tripadvisor, which have racked up 2,675 reviews between them. Of these, 2,205 gave at least four stars — not bad for a place where you’re competing with the beach for punters’ attention.
Glasgow grabs third spot, with 80.62% of reviews being positive. The Scottish city’s got 39 sports bars, which is probably just scratching the surface in a place where football is basically a religion.
Birmingham follows with 79.89% of reviews giving four or five stars. Across its 30 sports bars, there are 5,908 reviews, with 4,720 giving high ratings. The Midlands knows how to keep its locals happy, especially when there’s a proper match on.
Bradford snags the fifth spot, with 79.58% of its sports bar reviews being positive. The Yorkshire city’s got 37 establishments in the ‘sports bar’ category — that’s a lot of places to drown your sorrows when your team inevitably bottles it. Overall, they’ve collected 6,322 reviews, with 5,031 giving four or five stars.
Southampton follows with 79.50% of its sports bar reviews giving at least four stars. The south coast city’s 21 sports bars have pulled in 4,347 reviews combined, and 3,456 give strong ratings. Saints fans clearly know their way around a good pint and a decent screen setup.
Gateshead rolls in seventh, with 79.45% of reviews giving four or five stars. The Tyneside town’s 36 sports bars have accumulated 4,476 reviews, with 3,556 being positive. That’s some serious dedication to the beautiful game and beautiful beer.
Edinburgh lands eighth, with 77.45% of reviews being positive. The Scottish capital’s got 33 sports bars listed on Tripadvisor, which have pulled in 13,625 total reviews — clearly Edinburgh knows how to pack them in. Of these, 10,553 are positive, which is pretty impressive for a city where you’re competing with actual culture for entertainment.
Bath takes ninth place, with 77.33% of its sports bar reviews giving four or five stars. Out of 20 sports bars on Tripadvisor, there are 4,517 total reviews, with 3,493 giving four stars or higher. Even in a city famous for Roman baths, modern-day punters know where to find a good atmosphere.
Bournemouth rounds out the top ten, with 77.27% of its sports bar reviews being positive. The coastal town’s got 26 sports bars listed, and they’ve managed 6,226 reviews between them, with 4,811 being positive. Not too shabby for a place where you could just as easily be watching the waves instead of the match.
Ekaterina Boboleva, CEO of FIRST, said: “It is great to see such a diverse range of areas in the top ten, highlighting how sports can bring people together no matter where in the UK they are.
“From Gosport to Glasgow, these areas offer something for everyone.
“Whether you’re a local or a visitor, these areas provide the perfect setting to catch a game with friends or enjoy the energy of a packed sports bar.”
Source: SussexWorld
By Matt Pole
Published 26th Jul 2025