Newlands

Firstly you need to know that Cape Town is known as the Mother city in South Africa. The joke around this is that it takes 9 months to get anything done because everything is so slow and laid back. It’s a great place for a holiday though for just that reason. Cape Town is really beautiful and some of South Africa’s most expensive property can be found there.

The stadium is located near the shopping suburb of Claremont so before the match you can find a pub nearby and send the wife (if she dares to come with you) off to one of the shopping malls like Cavendish Square. There is a Hotel very nearby that had a good pub the last time I was there.

I have been to two matches at Newlands and I have mixed reviews. The first match was way back in 1994 when England toured South Africa. I got my tickets through a “mate” and he kindly got me a seat in the corner that was awful. England lost and I would probably rather have stayed in the pub to watch the match. I might have been able to see match that way.

The problem was that I was nearly at the level of the players and the field has a curve. This means that when the players dive with the ball for the try line on the opposite side they disappear. I think England scored a try but I have no idea who it was. They other thing is that in around June the lovely South African sun sets behind the stadium so unless someone, like me now, tells you to take your sunnies you will wake up in the morning with a suntan on your face except where you put your hand over your eyes for half the match to stop the sun blinding you. When the sun goes down it gets a bit chilly in June in Cape Town too so where your long sleeve rugby jersey.

99% of Beer in South Africa is “brewed” by South African breweries. I say “brewed” because some of their beers taste like Thames water. Most of their beers are 5 % Alc. Vol. so even the bad ones have a kick. Thankfully there is probably a good beer for you in their range so don’t worry about it too much. Newlands stadium is next door to one of the SAB breweries.

Both times I have been to the stadium the buggers at the Brewery opened the Vats or whatever they do which filled the stadium with the smell of yeast. This has the effect of making you very thirsty for a fresh beer. You end up not thinking about the match and dreaming of all that beer nextdoor. Bloody bastards.

With all of this criticism I must say that the atmosphere in the stadium is very good. The 2nd time I went to Newlands it was much better. I sat further up and was on the halfway line. I managed to smuggle some beers in by putting them in one of those very tall and silly hats which they sell outside the stadiums.

The people in Cape Town are very friendly which will make your whole weekend a pleasure. After the match get down to the waterfront. There are a few pubs there that are worth a visit. My favourite is probably the smallest and they brew their beer on the spot. It’s called the Mitchell’s Scottish Ale house and although the pub next door (Ferryman’s Tavern) is nice I prefer the Ale House. It has more character. The Ferryman’s is probably better for larger crowds though. Both pubs share the same building so be sure to visit both.

If you get hungry head for a restaurant called Quay Four or if you haven’t had enough sport then head to the Sports Café which isn’t a café at all. There are enough places to keep you busy all night at the waterfront.

In the morning if you don’t have a breakfast chucked win with your accommodation call a taxi and get them to drop you off in Camp’s bay. There are loads of breakfast places and the view of the beach is fantastic. There are a few property agents there too if you fall in love with Cape Town and you probably will. At lunch head up to the cable cars and go up Table Mountain taking in the magnificent views.

After lunch ask a taxi to take you to La Med, which is near Camps bay. Watch the sun go down and the women come out to play while you enjoy the benefit of your Forex.