'Tennent's galore': Boston's only Scottish bar gearing up for Tartan Army takeover

The owner of a dedicated Scottish bar in Boston says they’re gearing up for the Tartan Army descending on the city by ordering more than 100 kegs of Tennent’s.

Jason Waddleton from Stonehaven is the owner of The Haven in Jamaica Plains – described as the city’s only Scottish bar and restaurant.

The pub owner, who opened the home away from home in 2010, says he was ecstatic when the Scots were drawn for two fixtures in the city.

Steve Clarke’s side made history in qualifying for the finals in North America this summer, with the Scots due to take on Haiti on June 14 and then Morocco on June 19.

It means tens of thousands of Tartan Army members will descend on the Gillette Stadium outside Boston.

The venue is in Foxborough – a town smaller than Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, with a population of less than 19,000.

Waddleton says his bar has been preparing the only way they know how, by ordering 120 kegs of Tennent’s to accommodate the thirsty supporters.

He told STV News: “That is how many pints we have coming, so I’m doing a call for help here, we need you to come and drink Tennents to get through them.”

He added: “It was a dream come true, we had manifested it, and it landed in our lap. For the first time in 28 years, Scotland is at the World Cup and it’s in Boston. It’s incredible.

“We’re so excited for everyone to come here. We’ve been inundated with messages from far and wide, not just Scotland.

“There are so many people in America who identify with being Scottish, having Scottish roots and want to come to the party.”

He added: “It’s going to be a real epicentre, the main home for the Tartan Army. It’s going to be epic.”

Yet Scots travelling to the US will be hit in the pocket after it was confirmed train ticket prices to the Gillette Stadium are to quadruple.

Under fare updates announced by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), a round-trip ticket between Boston’s South Station and the stadium will cost $80 (£60) per person.

Special event trains to the stadium for New England Patriots games, New England Revolution matches, and concerts typically cost around $20 (£15) for a round-trip.

It is expected that 20,000 fans will be transported to the stadium on 14 commuter rail trains for each of Scotland’s games, with the journey taking around an hour.

Scotland will conclude their World Cup group campaign against Brazil in Miami on June 24.

Tickets for games and a three-day festival at the Haven are available here.