WITH THE World Cup getting underway today, football fans in the Forest of Dean have been given another reason to celebrate after Gloucestershire was named the best place in the UK to watch the tournament.

A new study by pub chain Hungry Horse ranked Gloucestershire as the top county in the country for football viewing atmosphere, based on Tripadvisor reviews mentioning sports-related terms such as "football", "sports" and "World Cup".

The county topped the rankings with 7.88 per cent of reviews mentioning sport, ahead of Greater Manchester and Worcestershire.

The two Hungry Horse pubs closest to the Forest of Dean are the Royal Oak in Gloucester and the Grandstand in Hereford.

Football supporters in the Forest of Dean are also spoiled for choice when it comes to finding somewhere to watch England's matches closer to home.

Popular venues expected to attract fans throughout the tournament include Lydbrook & District Community Social Club, The Golden Lion in Cinderford, The Globe Inn in Berry Hill, The George at Aylburton, Ritmo's in Coleford and Lydney Town AFC's clubhouse.

Many pubs and clubs across the district will be showing matches live, offering supporters the chance to enjoy the atmosphere with fellow fans as England begin their latest bid for World Cup glory.

The tournament, being held across the United States, Canada and Mexico, is expected to attract huge audiences throughout the summer, with Sir Thomas Tuchel's England side hoping to challenge for the trophy.

According to the Hungry Horse research, Gloucestershire's position at the top of the national rankings was driven by the number of reviews mentioning football and live sport.

Researchers analysed Tripadvisor reviews from Hungry Horse pubs across the UK, examining references to sporting keywords to identify the best places to watch major tournaments.

Caroline La Niece, Head of Brand Marketing at Hungry Horse, said the findings showed football fans did not need to head to major cities to enjoy a great matchday atmosphere.

She said counties such as Gloucestershire had outperformed many traditional footballing heartlands when it came to sports-related reviews.

Wherever supporters choose to watch, Gloucestershire's top ranking suggests the county will be one of the best places in Britain to follow the World Cup this summer.