Breaking: Pub sound readings during the World Cup reveal England supporters out-roared Scotland, with The Minories in London registering a staggering 133.9dB during Marcus Rashford’s goal — noise levels comparable to a jet engine. New polling and venue monitoring also rank terrace anthems — led by the Peter Crouch chant — and show football songs spilling from stadia into pubs, homes and unexpected places across Britain.
Minories in London tops noise chart as England fans hit 133.9dB
The loudest pub moment recorded so far came during England’s opening game when The Minories in London peaked at 133.9 decibels after Marcus Rashford’s goal. That level sits in the range of a jet engine at takeoff (roughly 130–140dB), far above common city-noise benchmarks and edging out Scotland’s loudest reading.
How that compares: Scotland and other venues
Scotland’s top reading, 121.6dB, was logged at The Chanter in Edinburgh during John McGinn’s opener. Other hotspots across England — including venues in Canary Wharf, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle — have competed closely in raw volume, with the newly tracked data establishing a real-time loudness league between rival fanbases.
Why the noise level matters
These readings are more than novelty numbers. Noise approaching or exceeding 120dB can risk short-term hearing damage and underscores how intense pub atmospheres have become during major tournaments. For clubs, broadcasters and pub operators, the figures also quantify a valuable asset: atmosphere that drives shared experience and social momentum on matchday.
Chant culture: classics still rule, new hits emerge
Terrace favourites remain a cornerstone of matchday identity. A national ranking of fan songs puts the Peter Crouch chant at number one, followed by Neil Diamond’s "Sweet Caroline" and Fat Les’ "Vindaloo." Contemporary, player-specific chants — like ones for Declan Rice and Harry Maguire — demonstrate how social media and player profiles spawn fast-moving additions to the repertoire.
Top 10 chants fans are singing
1. "He's tall, he's red, his feet stick out the bed, Peter Crouch!" (Peter Crouch)
2. "Sweet Caroline" (Neil Diamond)
3. "Vindaloo" (Fat Les)
4. "Rice, Rice Baby" (Declan Rice)
5. Harry Maguire chant (tongue-in-cheek)
6. "Southgate you're the one..." (Gareth Southgate)
7. "Bowen's on fire and he's dating Dani Dyer" (Jarrod Bowen)
8. "Walking in a Shearer Wonderland" (Alan Shearer)
9. "Jordan Pickford's got tiny arms" (Jordan Pickford)
10. "Jamie Vardy's having a party" (Jamie Vardy)
Fans sing everywhere — pubs, homes, weddings
Survey data shows 52% of fans admit to singing football songs both in pubs and stadiums; 30% have joined in at family gatherings. Singing spills into parties (21%), holidays (16%), workplaces (10%), public transport (9%) and even weddings (4%). At-home engagement is split: 36% sing often while watching from the sofa, while 36% rarely or never join in.
Roar of the Nation: competing for the loudest venue
A nationwide campaign is measuring crowd noise across selected England and Scotland fixtures, inviting pubs to compete for the loudest atmosphere during matches. Participating venues include London’s Director’s Box and The Minories, Birmingham’s Walkabout, Manchester’s The Vine in Sale, Leeds’ Moot Hall Arms, and Newcastle’s Akenside Traders; Scotland entries include Glasgow’s Walkabout and Edinburgh’s The Chanter.
What this means for fans and the game
Measured loudness and chant popularity capture intangible matchday value: identity, memory and communal release. For supporters the data is a bragging right; for operators it’s a metric to drive promotions and match programming. For the wider game it reinforces that stadium rituals and pub culture remain central to international tournaments — and that atmosphere, quantifiable or not, still shapes the spectacle.
Outlook and next steps
Expect more real-time noise tallies as the tournament progresses and rivalries intensify. Clubs, public-health advocates and venue managers will likely monitor decibel trends to balance atmosphere with safety.
Pulisic ready to return vs Turkey, but USMNT will manage his minutes
Meanwhile, terrace culture will keep evolving — older anthems will endure, but social-media-born chants will continue to proliferate and define new chapters of fandom.
Mirror
