Everything You Need to Know to Win a VIP Champions League Final Trip at These Pubs...

Imagine the roar of the crowd, the electric tension in the air, and the sheer spectacle of seeing Europe’s finest football teams battle it out for the ultimate prize. Now, picture being there in person. For football fans across Yorkshire, that dream could become a reality. A new promotion is offering the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime VIP trip to the 2026 UEFA Champions League Final in Budapest. And the best part? Entry is as simple as enjoying the match at the local pub with your mates.

What’s the score with this incredible prize?

This isn’t just about getting tickets to the game. The lucky winner of this prize draw, run by Heineken and the Stonegate Group, will be jetting off for an unforgettable weekend. The grand prize is a complete VIP trip for two to the magnificent city of Budapest. The trip is scheduled for the weekend of the final, taking place from Friday, 29th May to Sunday, 31st May 2026, with the huge match on Saturday, 30th May.

So, what exactly does this amazing experience include? Let's break it down. The winners get return flights from either London or Manchester to Budapest, taking all the travel stress away. Upon arrival, they’ll be treated to a two-night stay in a top-quality, four-star hotel. All the fiddly bits like transfers between the airport, hotel, and the stadium are sorted too.

But the real magic happens around the football itself. The prize includes two hospitality tickets to the UEFA Champions League Final at the stunning Puskás Aréna. This means more than just a seat; it’s the full VIP treatment. There's an exclusive pre-match hospitality event to get into the spirit, a special welcome event on the Friday night, and even a lunch event on Saturday before heading to the final. To top it all off, the winners will also receive a £250 travel allowance to spend as they please. It’s a complete package designed to create a truly memorable weekend centred around one of the biggest games in world football.

How can football fans get in on the action?

Getting a chance to win this spectacular VIP trip is brilliantly straightforward. The whole campaign is built around something millions of football fans already do: watching the match in the pub. As the Champions League moves into the tense knockout stages, Stonegate Group pubs across the country are the place to be.

To enter the prize draw, fans need to head to a participating pub during any Champions League match. While they’re there enjoying the atmosphere, they can buy a round of four pints of Heineken for £12. This deal is perfect for sharing with mates. The next step is to use the free MiXR app. Anyone wanting to enter needs to download the app, create an account, and sign up to the ‘Season Pass’ feature, which rewards people for watching sports at the pub. Once signed up, they simply need to scan their MiXR card when they buy the round of Heineken pints to be entered into the prize draw. Each round purchased counts as one entry, though it’s limited to one entry per person during the promotion period. This fantastic promotion is running right through the exciting quarter-finals and semi-finals, with the final day for entries being 29th April 2026. The winner will then be drawn at random on 1st May 2026, giving them plenty of time to get excited for their trip to Budapest.

Celebrating the perfect match: pubs and football

There's a reason why watching football in a pub is a tradition. It’s about more than just the 90 minutes on the screen; it’s about the shared experience. It’s the collective gasp when a chance goes begging, the roar when a goal is scored, and the debates over a pint after the final whistle. This campaign from Heineken and the Stonegate Group is all about celebrating that unique social connection.

With the Champions League quarter-finals set to kick off on 7th/8th and 14th/15th April 2026, followed by the semi-finals on 28th/29th April and 5th/6th May 2026, the excitement is building. These biggest games are when the pub atmosphere is at its absolute best. The campaign is designed to bring fans together to soak it all in. Stephen Cooper, Head of Marketing at Stonegate Group, explained the thinking behind the promotion.

“Football is best enjoyed together, and there’s no better place than the pub with your mates. At Stonegate Group, we’re proud to celebrate those shared moments, partnering with Heineken® to give fans the chance to turn a great night out into an unforgettable UEFA Champions League Final experience.”

This initiative gives supporters another great reason to gather their mates and head out for the match. It turns a regular night of watching the football into a chance to win the ultimate football experience, creating an even bigger buzz around the final stages of the Champions League.

Where in Yorkshire can you try your luck?

Fans across Yorkshire have plenty of great local spots where they can get involved in this promotion. A number of Stonegate Group pubs in the region are participating, giving everyone a fair shot at winning the trip to Budapest. Whether in a bustling city centre or a local neighbourhood, there's a place to catch the match and enter the prize draw. Here are the participating venues across God's Own County:

• Leeds – Rita’s

• Leeds – The Merchant

• Leeds – Hyde Park Hotel

• Sheffield – Cavendish

• Sheffield – Bessemer

• York – Yates

• York – The Old Bank

• York – The Stonebow

• York – Keystones

• Huddersfield – Warehouse

• Stockton-on-Tees – Beckfields

• Middlesbrough – Bluebell Hotel

• Middlesbrough – Stapylton Arms

• Middlesbrough – The Southfield

With the knockout stages promising plenty of drama, there's no better time to get down to the pub, grab some pints of Heineken, and enjoy the beautiful game. And who knows, it could be the first step on a journey to the Champions League Final in Budapest.