Forum Topic

Twickenham Rugby today (Eng v NZ). Good for local business?

Beautiful Saturday morning..elegant well behaved crowds (many toffs and all!) wandering the streets of Twickenham and South Isleworth making their way to the International Rugby.The name of Twickenham is known all over the world..so too is Kew and Richmond I suppose. Do locals benefit? Do they see the plus side of things. Its magic to walk or drive slowly in the area ..especially the road from the Stadium to the Twickenham Railway Station..to see all the groups of people with their national flags and emblems making their way to the ground. Some look so classy, generally well dressed..and a delight to the eye.Kneller Hall, and Chase Bridge School grounds taken over for Corporate Hospitality...with ground markings sometimes.. awaiting VIP helicopter arrivals. Its big business. Do many locals benefit?

Jim Lawes ● 7121d4 Comments

Andrew and Patrick.Thanks for your responses..very interesting...and informative.

Jim Lawes ● 7116d

"I think the only area that does really well from rugby at Twickenham is Twickenham Town Centre."Hmm... you obviously haven't been to Richmond after a game!The buses laid on by the RFU from Twickenham go to Richmond - there are much better selection of transport links, bars and restaurants there.Personally, Twickenham is my least favourite of the major rugby stadia in Europe.  The crowd going to internationals there has got increasingly corporate and in my opinion there is a much better atmosphere at the big club games where there are a lot more "real" supporters.The stadia in Dublin, Cardiff and Edinburgh are a lot more central (right in the centre, in Cardiff's case) and the cities are smaller so the whole city has a buzz when a game is on.  London is so big and Twickenham so far out that you would only know something is going on in the immediate area.Stade de France is situated in a bit of an industrial wasteland, but the stadium itself is amazing with good and quick transport back to central Paris.I've yet to go to Rome... maybe next year!

Michael Robinson ● 7119d

Jim,To answer your question about business'in Isleworth doing well on rugby days I can tell you that when I first took over my shop next to the Triple Crown about six years ago both the pub and I did quite well in extra business. A year or two ago the RFU decided to do two things. First of all they lay on free buses from all of the surroundig train stations to transport people to and from the stadium. Secondly they decided to keep the bars in the stadium open after the match to dispurse the crowd over a longer period of time. The result has been less people walking to and from the stadium and subsequently less business for myself at least. I think the only area that does really well from rugby at Twickenham is Twickenham Town Centre.

Andrew Sibley ● 7121d

Driving in the area 2 hours before the match..the roads near the ground were flowing well....except the Twickenham Road going northwards from Worton Road and South Street. There was an unneccessary long long line of southbound traffic right back to Busch Corner...held up only by the stupidly programmed lights at those two junctions.Could they not have two people monotoring the situation..there were lots of grabbing hands around wanting your £10 for parking?  Councillors ..Lend me your ears and eyes. Who can sort it out?

Jim Lawes ● 7121d

Somehow 50,000 people or more crowded into this building site(!) to watch England play New Zealand today!Lots and lots of people walking around. Cars parked up the road? (Parking £10 at Isleworth Explorers, £10 at Gumley House, £?? at Triple crown ..old Jolly Gardeners Pub). Do they do well?

Jim Lawes ● 7121d