WIMBLEDON 2009

The Record Breaking Year

For us here at the Rose & Crown Wimbledon Tennis consists of an extensive build up of complex preparations for the most manic 2 weeks of the year.

Due to the gorgeous and glamorous renovations the Rose & Crown recently had, we were expecting 2009 to be an exceptional year. “Mount Bulmer” began growing 2 weeks prior to Wimbledon, plastic glasses were shipped in by the truckload and boxes of fruit arrived for the gallons of Pimm’s we would serve.

The reality hit our staff on the Saturday before the tournament started with the Village Fair when hundreds of people descended on us after a fun day on the common. We had more than double the usual number of staff on duty, but still had to draft in more troops – any rookie members of staff had their first taste of what the next 2 weeks would bring. On Sunday the bar became a little more streamlined – glasses were replaced with plastics, the back bar consisted of nothing more than Vodka, Rum, Gin, Sambuca, Tequila and of course more Bulmers than Ireland itself!

The true spectacle of Wimbledon Tennis doesn’t show itself until the sun starts setting, when play has ended and the ball boys and girls, and sometimes even the players, drop in and spend the night with us. The buzz carries on through from the main bar, to the courtyard and round to our specially erected marquee and continues all through the night, especially for our hotel guests, who have booked months in advance to secure their rooms.

Wimbledon Fortnight usually peaks on the first Saturday, but this year there was no let up, and we broke the record for the most sales in Wimbledon Village! With 4 bars open during the Fortnight and the BBQ going every night we had covered all our bases to cope with the influx of customers including removing all tables and chairs from the pub and staff levels were doubled, and even occasionally tripled.

Wimbledon Fortnight is an experience – 2 weeks which mark our calendar annually separating us from other pubs and makes the Rose & Crown the pub it deserves to be.