Deckchairs and beer at Poulter

Some people, it would appear, love their workplaces that little bit too much. Take those “crazy” folk at Leeds-based marketing agency Poulter Partners. “Wacky” managing director Gary McCall has shipped four tonnes of sand, a bar, deckchairs, Lilos, buckets and spades, and a video screen for the company’s employees to watch England’s games in Euro 2004 “just as they would if they were in Portugal”.

McCall has promised that as long as England are in the tournament the beer will be free. He says: “Our staff work really hard, so we like to give them a few rewards.” Considering that England’s first game kicked off at 7.45pm on a Sunday night, they must be working hard indeed if they were still in the office at that time to cheer on Sven’s boys.

McCall celebrated the World Cup in 2002 by turfing his office. The Diary shudders to think what will happen if England make it to Germany 2008. A bit of advance warning, Gary: pictures of your good self decked out in lederhosen will not make it into the Diary. Though there are probably various other, ahem, publications that would be interested.