PUBS across Southampton will be packed to the rafters as the city celebrates its biggest footballing occasion in 27 years.

Queues are expected as early as 9am outside some of the most popular venues which are screening the big game.

Police have advised many pubs to provide plastic glasses and extra doormen to ensure the big day passes off safely.

Staff at the Walkabout Inn have been taking up to 100 calls a day from fans inquiring about opening times and door prices.

Manager Rob Carruthers, said: "We are expecting a massive queue outside th bar by 9am, judging by the hundreds of calls we have had each day this week. We have the biggest TV screen in Hampshire and we're always completely full when there's a big game."

The High Street pub, which has a capacity of 760, is also holding a barbecue outside the back of the premises if the weather stays fine.

And for those willing to queue to get inside the Australian bar, there's an extra treat in store.

Rob added: "We're getting the staff outside doing face-painting and spraying people's hair in the lucky blue and yellow while they wait, completely free of charge."

The Varsity, in London Road, has been decked out in the lucky colours that brought Saints cup glory in 1976.

A spokesman for the bar, which holds 500, said: "It's really quite a sight. We've painted the windows and there's crepe paper everywhere. We've brought in double the amount of doormen to make sure everything passes off peacefully, got plastic glasses for ease and we're expecting people outside from 10am, an hour before we open."

At the Hogshead in Above Bar Street, extra staff and doormen have been drafted in although management say they are not expecting any trouble.

A spokesman for the pub, which has three screens, said: "It all very much depends on the result. If Saints win then I think there will be a party atmosphere with no trouble whatsoever. Whatever happens, we are expecting to be packed out."

The party atmosphere will be evident in scores of other venues across the city.

Southampton's traditional racing-green themed pub, the Winston Hotel, has had a makeover in time for Saturday's big match.

Red and white flowers have been planted in the window boxes of the Banister Park pub, opposite the former Dell site in Archers Road, and brand new parasols - all in Saints colours - have been bought.

Pub regular and electrician Neil Blundell has even decked the outside of the building in flashing red and white lights.

Landlady Karen Eyers said: "It will be quite a change because at the moment the pub is all green. We're also going to theme our food for the day as well - Beattie burgers and things like that."

Regulars at the Exford Arms pub in Southampton will not need to find a new venue to watch the FA Cup final on Saturday, after the landlord gave the drinking establishment a makeover.

The Exford Avenue pub, which has been renamed Saints Bar, is now decked out in the team's red and white colours and features a cabinet full of trinkets and memorabilia as well as themed lamp shades, curtains and even the pool table.

Alan Thomas, who recently took over the running of the bar, said: "I've been toying with the idea of decorating it for quite a while.

"I've got a pub full of Saints supporters so I gave them what they wanted. I've got photos of The Dell, St Mary's and Matt le Tissier, in the cabinets I've got ornaments, cups, glasses, it's really smart."

At The Waggoners Arms on Portswood Road, regulars have been helping to give their pub a makeover and it now stands proudly red and white on the outside and yellow and blue inside.

Balloons, home-made bunting and rosettes litter the lounge and bar of the drinking hole.

Landlord Ken Wilson said: "It's been a lot of fun but I'm worried about taking it all down now."

His partner Gina Laxton said: "Everyone's been pitching in - we've had them on the roof and everything."

Saints fans Perry McMillan and Richard Chorley are also transforming The Maple Leaf Club in The Polygon, into a swinging family venue for a 14-hour cup final festival.

The day will have a 1970s theme disco and the hope is to provide a blue and yellow carnival for families who want to experience the big game atmosphere for free.

But not everywhere will be marking the Cup final clash even though it's expected to be one of the busiest weekends of the year.

The Lizard Lounge in Bedford Place has a ban on football shirts and will not be screening the game.

A member of staff said: "We are not screening the game, we never do. Nobody will be allowed in wearing a football shirt. There will be doormen on all day, but it's just a normal Saturday for us."

But the rules aren't quite so strict at the Standing Order in High Street, where there are no TV screens, but there will be a special Saints bitter, brewed by a Hampshire company, on sale.

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