If you’re heading to Emirates Stadium for an Arsenal match, it’s a given that you’ll be tucking into some food or grabbing a drink during the game. However, while the Emirates is one of the most modern and state-of-the-art stadiums in Europe, you’ll quickly realise that eating and drinking here isn’t exactly pocket change.
Let’s take a look at what’s on offer, what you can expect to pay, and where to grab a bite and a pint before and after the game.
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Food Inside the Stadium: Expect a Premium Price for Stadium Grub
When you enter the Emirates, it’s not quite the local pub grub you might find at other football grounds, but it’s far from bad. Just don’t expect to get anything particularly cheap or small in portion size.
- Burgers and Hot Dogs: You’ll find the usual selection of burgers and hot dogs scattered around the stadium, but brace yourself: a burger will cost you around £8-£9, and a hot dog will be about £6-£7. These aren’t gourmet options, but they’re decent for filling up before or during the game.
- Fish and Chips: Yes, you can get fish and chips at the Emirates, but it’s still a stadium offering. Expect to pay around £12 for a portion of fish with chips. While not the most incredible fish and chips you’ll ever have, it serves its purpose.
- Pizza: A little bit of variety for those who aren’t feeling the burgers. A standard pizza will cost around £9, and while it’s nothing extraordinary, it can be a decent option if you’re looking for something quick.
- Vegetarian and Vegan Options: Arsenal has made strides in offering vegetarian and vegan-friendly options. You’ll find things like vegetarian burgers and falafel wraps for around £8-£9.
- Snacks: There are also various snacks available, including crisps (around £2), hot pretzels (£4), and even nuts. It’s not the most exciting food selection, but it can do the job in a pinch.
Lets be honest though the food here is overpriced and really not very good, but after a few beers do you really care?
Drinking at the Emirates: Expensive Pints, But A Decent Selection
As for drinks, Emirates Stadium has a wide range of choices, but they come at a price. If you’re expecting cheap pints of lager like you might get at your local, you’ll need to adjust your expectations.
- Beer: A pint of lager or bitter will set you back £6.50 to £7. The usual suspects are available, such as Carling, Heineken, and Budweiser, so if you’re after something else, you’ll need to adjust your expectations. The prices are about what you’d expect at a major stadium—expensive but not out of line with the premium location.
- Cider: If you’re not into beer, cider is an option at around £4 per pint. It’s a decent alternative if you’re after something a little different and less heavy than lager.
- Wine: If you’d prefer something a little more civilised, there are wine options for around £6-£7 per glass. Again, it’s not top-tier wine, but it does the trick if you prefer sipping something with a bit more class than a pint of lager.
- Soft Drinks: Not into alcohol? No problem. You can grab a Pepsi or water for around £3. They also have various sodas and energy drinks to keep you hydrated.
Drinking Around the Emirates Stadium: Pubs and Quick Bites
While the food and drink inside the stadium might be a bit on the pricey side, there’s no shortage of options outside the stadium to fuel up before or after the match.
Pubs Around Emirates Stadium
There are a variety of pubs surrounding the Emirates Stadium, many of which cater specifically to Arsenal fans. Here are a few to check out before heading to the stadium:
- The Drayton Park: This is one of the most popular pubs with Arsenal supporters and is just a short walk from the stadium. Expect a lively atmosphere, especially on matchdays. The beers here cost around £6-£7 per pint, which is a bit more reasonable than inside the stadium.
- The Twelve Pins: Another popular choice with fans, especially for its large beer garden. You’ll find a selection of lagers and ciders, plus hearty pub grub, all while soaking in the pre-match buzz. A pint will run you about £6+ here.
- The Gunners Pub: Of course, it’s named after the club. It’s a great spot for fans to gather before a match and enjoy a pint with fellow Gooners. Expect to pay around £6.50 per pint.
Fast Food Outside the Stadium
If you’re not keen on pubs and prefer something quicker, there are quite literally fast food vans EVERYWHERE when you exit the stadium that are for the most part pretty good, again with London prices….
- Burgers and Chips: Outside the Emirates, you’ll find burger vans serving up simple but tasty burgers for around £6-£7, a reasonable price if you’re in a rush and want to grab something on the go.
- Fish and Chips: Yes, the classic fish and chips is also available from various vendors for around £6-£7. You can even find some of these places named after Arsenal, such as Gunners Fish Bar, which serves up delicious portions of crispy fish and golden chips. I had a particularly good bap here!
- Kebabs and Wraps: If you fancy something a little bit more filling, you can grab a kebab or wrap from nearby shops for about £6-£8. These places are perfect for a quick, filling bite before heading into the match.
A Family Tradition
In my family, we say that when a baby is born, we might not know if it’s a boy or a girl, but we know it’s going to be an Arsenal fan. It’s just in the blood, even if the match itself was just a classic 1-0 to the Arsenal bore affair.
To me there’s something about the whole experience—the noise, the food, the beer—and of course, being surrounded by fellow Arsenal fans—that makes it all worthwhile. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s part of the experience, and when you’re there, you can’t help but embrace it.