PARTY-LOVING publicans have big plans to add atmosphere to Monday’s eagerly-anticipated Tour de France bonanza.

Pubs along the route will be set up barbecues, tents and makeshift bars at the side of the road, while one is moving to a village hall.

The Compasses Inn, Littley Green, is about 1,000m from the route, so owner Joss Ridley has decided to move to Waltham Village Hall, South Street, right where the action is.

Joss, 37, said: “We’re just off the route. Lots of cyclists come in here, and we’ve been following the Tour for years so we wanted to something on the route.”

Tom Odell, 32, manager of the Horse and Groom, Writtle, said the pub’s restaurant had been fully booked since March by enthusiasts wanting to watch the Tour over lunch.

For those who haven’t booked, 20 of the beer garden’s benches are being moved to the front of the pub to provide seating for about 120 people.

The Hare at Roxwell, on Bishop Stortford Road, has been booked out by Chelmsford bike shop Athlon Sport and the Beehive, Baddow Road, is serving bacon rolls with a barbecue later.