As good as Sagres and Super Bock Beer may be (and I didn’t try either, so I can’t comment), there is something sweet about knowing you can still find a pint of good English beer in Portugal.
One of downtown Cascias’ main streets, Largo Luis De Camoes, is home to two popular and lively English bars, John Bull and Chequers Bar & Restaurante.
There’s no other way to say it: Chequers is a loud place. A DJ spins tunes five nights a week (the other two nights are reserved for live bands). Prepare yourself to hear every sound from Rolling Stones rock to 80s hair metal to cheesy Euro-pop dance tracks. A good mix of locals and British expatriates stick to themselves in a small, but cozy front bar area that serves up all types of English spirits, beers, and cocktails, along with Portuguese beers. Light meals and specialty dishes from England, Canada, America, and Portugal are available, as well as a full English breakfast.
The bartender must have been a lonely fellow on our night out, as he was determined to monopolize all three TV screens with video footage of a swimsuit photo shoot shot in slow motion. I hear they do a fine job of televising sporting events as well, so cross your fingers that the bartender finds a personal love connection before the 2006 World Cup.