A group of lucky licensees is heading to the FIFA World Cup courtesy of Punch Taverns and supplier Budweiser.

Competitions held in Punch’s monthly retailer promotional brochure Connect and at the pubco’s autumn trade shows were offering once in a lifetime trips to the 2006 finals in Germany due to start next week.

The eight Connect winners will be flown to Cologne by a Bud sponsored private jet before seeing Sven’s men face Sweden on June 20. 

They include Justin Hudson from Butlers in Gloucester.  He said: “We show all the big games in the pub and I know the atmosphere during the World Cup will be electric.  However, being at the stadium itself will be truly special.”

Will Hughes, who runs Shotz Bar at the Kings Head Hotel in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, also won a place on the Germany trip.  He said: “This is an absolutely awesome prize to win.  I am very excited about going to the game and I know everyone back at the pub will be watching closely too.”

Punch’s trade show winner, who also gets flights, accommodation and tickets to England versus Sweden, is Shane Winship from the Alice Hawthorn Inn, York.

He said: “While at my local trade show I filled in a postcard at the Budweiser stand and out of all the entries collected at all the shows around the country I was fortunate enough for mine to be picked first. 

“I’m a season ticket holder at York City but haven’t seen England play since I was six.  Going to the World Cup will be a fantastic experience.”

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