Have you ever watched a Big John clip? He’s a large man from London who’s known for recording himself eating meals that, frankly, would probably overwhelm me. In one of his videos, he ordered three pies, two servings of mashed potatoes, and a sauce that looks a lot like swamp water. He calls it “proper hearty food,” then shouts, “bosh,” which is a word he seems to use again and again.
Riot Games—unexpectedly—has brought Big John on board to work as the landlord at an East London pub for a weekend, running from June 19th to 21st. During that time, the venue will display Valorant pint glasses and beer tap labels, while also streaming the ongoing Valorant Masters event (which is happening in London too) completely free of charge. That said, the pints won’t be included.
According to a press release, the plan is to recreate the “authentic British matchday pub” vibe—so you should anticipate plenty of beer, pies, loud cheering, and possibly a few bouts of genuine emotion. Still, I’m not sure a Valorant crowd will behave the same way a football audience does. The whole concept makes me wince, but I suppose it’s not exactly my place to judge.
The pub involved is The Phoenix Arms in Hackney Bridge. It’ll be decorated with Valorant team banners, memorabilia, and custom pub signage. Live match coverage will be on, and naturally, Big John will be there. The only detail that’s still unclear is whether he’ll be behind the bar serving drinks or busy eating something.
Valorant Masters runs at the Copper Box Arena through June 21st. The venue was originally built for the British Olympics in 2012, and it’s become a familiar site for high-level esports competitions. Riot Games has previously used the same space for a League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational.
At this Masters event, a new map reveal for Valorant will take place. Earlier this year, the game added a Croatian character called Miks—an audio-focused controller who can use sonic abilities to help keep the opposing team out of sync with his rhythm (sorry).