UEFA Euro Under 21 Championships 2023
Group B
Batumi Arena
Batumi, Georgia
22 Jun 23
The tournament was played in Romania and Georgia between 21 Jun and 8 Jul. The Romanian venues were Cluj-Napoca (2 stadiums) and Bucharest (2 stadiums). In Georgia the games were hosted in Batumi, Kutaisi and Tbilisi (2 stadiums). England's half of the draw was played in Georgia on the Black Sea coast in Batumi and in the cultural capital of Kutaisi
Tickets were available on the day but to be fair most of the travelling English support had purchased E-tickets online. I wanted physical tickets so I went back to the stadium and bought another for a massive sum of £4.50. Extravagance!
The Batumi Arena (sponsorship name , Adjarabet Arena) is a 20000 capacity stadium located to the West of Batumi. The national dance of Georgia, the Khorumi served as an inspiration for the façade of the stadium.
The stadium construction was completed in May 21 and it is now the home of Dynamo Batumi who play in the Erovnuli Liga, the top league in Georgia. It is due to play host to 3 Group games, a Semi Final and the final of the 2023 UEFA European U21 Championship. If England reach the final they will have played here 4 times.
Attendance: 8168
Arrival at Batumi airport on 19 Jun on a ridiculously early flight from Istanbul Airport
Turkish Airlines flight TK0390 which departed Istanbul at 0645 to arrive in Batumi at 0935. Knackered!
After getting fleeced by a taxi driver for 100 Lara (£30) for a taxi ride of about 8km I'm feeling a bit low. To top it all the hotel couldn't check me in, so it was dump bags and go sight-see
Neptune Fountain just opposite the hotel
Day 1: Alphabetical Tower, Batumi Promenade and Stadium. Alphabetical Tower is a 130 meter high structure symbolizing the Georgian alphabet and its people. The structure is in the design of the double helix pattern of DNA
Views from the top
Georgian letters, don't think it is the whole alphabet as they have 33 letters not 30
If only Sue was here 💗
Me, you and Batumi
The Ali and Nino monument is a moving love monument. Depending on where you view it from, the figures move towards each other and super-impose to become one. The characters are from a novel, Ali is an aristocratic Azerbaijan and Nino is a Georgian princess
The Ferris Wheel on Miracle Park
Chacha Clock Tower was built in 2012 and replicates the previous tower from the early 20thC. Georgian Chacha comes out of the fountains instead of water (once a week for 15 mins). Sadly it was dry during my visit
UEFA U21 marketing next to the Batumi Marriage Licence Bureau for marriages which are only valid in Batumi
Photo zone for proposals of marriage 😂
Restaurant Tower (Koshki)
Typical dwellings where the locals live, just a stone's throw from the towering glass fronted 5 star hotels
After ditching my Bird Electric Scooter I threaded my way through the houses to the stadium
Smoked fish at the Batumi Brewery
First glimpse of the Batumi Arena
Day 2: Old Town, Cable Car and Beer Street
Good Morning Batumi💦
The Old Town in Batumi is dominated by the Piazza
Piazza
Cats and dogs in the Piazza
St Nicholas Church opposite the Piazza was built in 1865 by Greeks during the Ottoman period. It was the only church in Batumi to survive the Soviets
Cheesy mushrooms at the Cable Car cafe
When I return from the mountain the rain is still teaming down and I get sucked into another Georgian Cafe (Machakhela)
This time for Khinkali and a Batumi Beer
Octopus Cafe on the way to Beer Street
After picking up Brasso and Wigan Steve its off to the Batumi Brewery for smoked fish and a pint (Brasso is not impressed)
Next stop off is the Georgian Pub for shaslik and beer. The shaslik kept the lads happy
Batumi Arena at dusk
The Dancing Fountains
Back to the Old Town for last orders
Day 3: Gonio fortress and the Old Town
12 Km towards the Turkish border on the No 88 Marshrutka lies Gonio Fortress which dates back to the 1st Century AD
Time for a different type of Khachapuri, this is Imeretian Khachapuri from the central region of Georgia. Perfect brunch
After the earlier cultural extravagances it is back to Popeye's for refreshments and awaiting the arrival of Bish
The chosen venue for supper is the Munich Bar in the Old Town. The pork ribs were excellent
Brasso, Bish, me and Wigan Steve
Batumi Tower with it's Ferris Wheel which suspends 100 meters above the ground is now a fully operational hotel where a 1 bedroom apartment can cost about £260 per night
Day 4: Matchday and Fuck Ruzzia
Gates to the yard in Old Batumi
Due to visibility issues on my first venture on the Argo Cable Car I did it again, this time with better success
Views to the Black Sea are clear today
This is where we are heading next
Flags of the autonomous republic of Adjara fluttering in the wind on the approach to the sea port
Back in the Georgian Pub for shaslik and beer (but where is Mellor), next stop the Beer Yard
Batumi Arena on matchday
The full team is finally assembled outside the Batumi Arena. Left to right: Tim, Bish, Charlie, Wigan, Ian, Brasso and me
Charlie 'the professional' struggling at security
Flags are up
Bar is open
Selfie time😎
Amazing views no matter where you sit or stand
View from the bar
Sector D behind the goal
England's No1 fan in Georgia
First blood to England in a close first half
England 1 Czech Republic 0
The Grantham Rams flag is on social media #UEFA U21
Behind the goal
Team Batumi supporting England U21 away
Bish locates a cracking little bar across from the stadium
Dinner date with my Macdonald's mates.
Day 5: Adjarian Wine House and Adventure Training
The Adjarian Wine House is in Khelvachauri village
They specialise in Rose wine (Chkhaveri Rose) which is harvested only in western Georgia but they do both red and white. After the tour we did some wine tasting
Followed by a slap up Georgian meal
Next up is the Makhuntseti Waterfall
Above the waterfall is the Zip line, just had to give it a go
My epic footage is too big so you will have to settle for Mr Bishop coming into land
Then we stopped at the ancient Makhuntseti Bridge
Not for the the feint hearted
Riverside restaurant for some beer and khinkali
Beer Garden
Back to the Old town Batumi for last orders
Bish sacks it and Charlie starts singing "Derbyshire, la,la,la ", so it's all downhill from here
Last view of the astronomical clock as I head off to bed
Day 6: 0730 bus to Kutaisi💪
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