The summer after I graduated high school, my mom took me to England and Scotland. It was my first time in Europe, and I couldn’t get enough of the history, the art, or the castles. What I don’t really recall is the food (besides the one gut bomb of a fish and chips order). Since then, I’ve thought of American-style English pubs as a place for a pint after work, not a spot to grab a bite. Churchill’s Public House has changed my tune.

The almost one-year-old LoHi spot is airy, wholly lacking in pretension, and is owned by two friendly British blokes (Pete Satchell and Keith Winyard; Winyard also runs Streets of London Pub on East Colfax). “We wanted to create a reasonably priced, high-end pub with real good food,” Satchell says. I’d say the duo succeeded. Sip a pint of Boddingtons while you peruse the menu, which features expected English staples as well as Indian food (incredibly popular among Brits), and some Colorado must-haves (breakfast burrito, barbecue pork sandwich, nachos, wings).

There’s no better time to check out Churchill’s than during the World Cup. Happy hour specials—including a plentiful menu of $5 bites—will be available during all matches. I suggest bringing along a group of friends and sharing plates of creamy but balanced chicken coconut curry; surprisingly light tempura-fried fish and chips (pictured, right) served with refreshing lemon-scented spinach, mango slaw, and caper aïoli; and—you’ll want this dish all to yourself—a personal-size shepherd’s pie (pictured, above) with rich lamb and toasted mashed potatoes. (FYI: When you order a happy hour food item, you can add on a select beer for just $1.)

Now, all we need is for the United States to surprise everyone and make it deep into the tournament.

World Cup Bonus: Maria Empanada, GB Fish & Chips, and El Guapo Neighborhood Lounge, all located on the corner of Broadway and Louisiana, have teamed up to create a passport card (representing their three countries—Argentina, England, and Mexico). For $15, you score two empanadas, a beer, and a shot of tequila at the respective eateries. Pick up your card at any of the three locations; they’re valid until the final match on July 13.

1560 Boulder St., 303-477-1600

Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.