With thousands set to descend on West Bridgford for the fourth Investec Ashes Test, the Trent Bridge Inn’s Philippa Bacon, has her work cut out for her ahead of Australia’s arrival in Nottingham.
“I’m pulling in staff from other pubs in Nottingham city centre are getting involved and coming over to help us for those five days.”
The Trent Bridge cricket ground and Inn share a long history, going back as far as the ground’s inception.
In 1837 Notts captain and coach William Clarke married the pub’s landlady, before converting the land behind it into the foundations of the venue seen today. Bacon has seen the appeal of this history first hand.
“I had a gentleman in about six months ago who came in and asked for a tour around the pub,” she said.
“It was almost like a mini museum tour for him, looking at the old cricketing memorabilia and photographs.”
Bacon added: “The architect put in a lot of time making sure that the pub could be seen in that way, having old bats signed by players and really thought about keeping the TBI as close to the cricket ground as possible.”
When the Ashes test begins on August 6, all eyes will be on Nottingham, and the city is sure to become a thriving, exciting place to be. Tens of thousands will be in the ground to watch the cricket live, while many more will be taking it in via Sky TV.
“As much as cricket fans will be in the ground all day you find that people go further afield than those places around the ground, it boosts the city massively.,” said Bacon.
“Before the game, after the game, the entire city is buzzing. I know from last year that town was absolutely heaving and the atmosphere was absolutely fantastic.
“Even my friends from outside Nottingham know about Trent Bridge, what’s around the cricket ground and the football grounds too, it’s a good thing to have.”
Bacon added: “On big match days the back bar opens into the ground.”
“It makes for a nice atmosphere, because you can still have the front of the bar open for your locals, your regulars.
“You don’t want to be annoying your regulars, even in the case of this massive event.”