City 'punches above its weight' when it comes to our hospitality

BARS AIM TO SHOWCASE NOTTINGHAM'S SPORTING HISTORY

- By LOUIS CORBETT

PUBS and hospitality businesses are eagerly looking forward to giving European visitors a warm welcome today as Nottingham Forest prepare to host their first Europa League game at the City Ground.

The Reds are gearing up to take on Danish side FC Midtjylland in the first European match on home soil in almost 30 years tonight (kickoff 8pm).

Staff at some of the city’s best-known pubs have also put in plenty of legwork to mark the landmark occasion which many supporters of a certain age could only have dreamed of several years ago.

Forest are guaranteed to play at least four home games in the European competition and Mark James, owner of The Boot Room - a Forest-themed pub outside the City Ground - is hoping to make a lasting impression on those arriving from overseas.

"Our expectations are that we are key to showcase Nottingham, but also due to our location - there is a lot of history that we can embrace,” he said.

“When they come into the bar and they see the pictures on the wall, it’s quite nostalgic and it allows them to see how much of a sporting city Nottingham is.