Man City Wembley pubs: Full details for fans ahead of the FA Cup final

Manchester City are gearing up for their third consecutive FA Cup final, and this year, the match represents their final chance of winning silverware in what has been an unusually quiet season for the Cityzens in the Pep Guardiola era.

Typically, City fans head to the national stadium full of confidence, but things are a little different this year as their side are taking on a Crystal Palace team that has been brilliant in recent weeks. While City are still the favourites, they are perhaps scarred by what happened in the final last year when they didn't turn up against Man Utd.

Most City fans heading to Wembley this weekend will be well-accustomed to the trip and may even have their own designated pre-match routine, given how often their club plays at the national stadium. If you don't have any concrete plans, though, then here is what you need to know about the Man City Wembley pubs.

Man City Wembley pubs: Where can Man City fans drink pre-match?

Manchester City fans have been allocated the east side of the stadium for the FA Cup final. This is the opposite side that they were allocated last year's final, which could be a sign that the Blues are going to enjoy a better day than they did this time last year.

In truth, though, City fans will probably be disappointed by being given the east side as the west is considered the ‘better' side in terms of pubs. By far the biggest and best pub on the east side of Wembley is the Torch (1-5 Bridge Road, Wembley, Middlesex, England HA9 9AB).

That isn't the only option on that side of the stadium, though, but the others aren't nearly as big, which makes things tricky. The full list of pubs on the east of Wembley is as follows:

• The Blue Check – 12-13 Empire Way, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 0RQ
• Wembley Tavern – 121 Wembley Park Dr, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 8HG
• Stadium Sports Bar – 125 Wembley Park Dr, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 8HQ
• The Torch – 1-5 Bridge Rd, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 9AB
• Crock of Gold – 23 Bridge Rd, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 9AB
• Black Sheep – 2 Olympic Way, London HA9 0GU
• Feed The Yak – 51 Olympic Way, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 0EG

Given that the Torch is the most popular pub on the east side of the stadium, fans are recommended to ring and book a table to avoid disappointment on the day. Once the pub is full, they operate a one-in, one-out policy, which can be lengthy and not worth your time.

Alternatives to Man City Wembley pubs

There will be separate Man City and Crystal Palace fan zones around Wembley on the day of the game. The Man City fan zone will be located outside gates C-E on the east side of the stadium and is a great way to soak up the pre-match atmosphere, particularly if the weather holds up.

The Man City fan zone at Wembley will open at 11:00 where fans will be able to grab a bite to eat and something to drink provided they are in possession of a valid match ticket. The fan zone will stop serving alcohol one hour before kick-off and will close completely 30 minutes later to give fans ample time to get into the stadium.

The Wembley Stadium bag policy also applies to the Fan Zones.

Which other pubs can City fans enjoy before the FA Cup final?

There are also a number of places to eat and drink at the nearby London Designer outlet. This venue is not allocated to a particular team and has a number of chain restaurants and bars that include Nando's, TGI Fridays, Pizza Express and Wagamama.

For anyone who arrives early enough, there are also some nearby tube stations that may be worth heading to.

One popular drinking destination on a direct line to Wembley is Baker Street. There are several pubs within walking distance from the tube station, including Wetherspoons, meaning all is not lost if the pubs around the stadium get packed early on.

Inside the stadium

Wembley Stadium is now completely cashless, meaning fans will need to make sure they have a card or contactless method of payment with them if they want to buy anything whilst inside.

Supporters will be able to take advantage of a new frictionless Tap Bar on level one at Wembley, allowing access to refreshments quicker and more conveniently. Fans will simply tap their card on entry, pick up what they have ordered and then walk away without the need to queue.

Man City fans may be repeat visitors to the stadium, but there are some recent additions to the food and drink offerings at Wembley. These include TapHouse Social, Camden Town Brewery Bars and two new M&S Food stores, and can be found on the level two concourse.