V FOR VILLA

The official Aston Villa Supporters Club of Dubai – The Dubai Lions are celebrating their continued rapid growth with the rebranding of their home venue in Al Habtoor City. The supporters club moved to their current home, The Rose & Crown pub at the start of the 2016/2017 season and have set about making the popular gastro-pub their very own. The club, founded and run by Chairman Mark Forrester, moved to the Rose & Crown after two years of sharing a local venue with Rangers and Baggies fans. After approaching the Rose & Crown to host the Dubai Lions as its sole supporters’ club in the city, the establishment has gone to great lengths to host the Villans of the middle-east. Bar manager Brendan has hosted brunches, late night cup games, provided 20% discount for all Villa fans and erected a variety of memorabilia and collateral in the previously London-themed interior.

​

The supporters club, which is well advertised in Dubai and the Middle-East, readily encourages holiday making Villans to visit and soak in the atmosphere and benefits during all screened and streamed Villa games – a prospect which has now become much easier with the rebranding of the hotel complex in which their new pub is situated. Previously the W hotel, the rebranding of the complex to the V Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton has seen a giant ‘V’ appear above the pub in which the club regularly meets. Reminiscent of the 'AV' floodlights that were familiar to thousands of motorists driving past along the M6 or Aston Expressway, the supporters club feel that they now have their very own V for Villa ‘bat-signal’ that, along with its central location, attractive benefits and easy company, will continue to attract holidaymaking and expat support to its new and much-loved home.