Mumbai: If you thought you’d have to wait till the evening to quench your thirst at the friendly neighbourhood bar while watching the ICC World Cup 2015 matches, you’d be wrong. The mega event starting February 14 in Australia and New Zealand may not be best suited for our daily schedules (with early morning matches), but it has also opened up a business opportunities for watering holes here, which have decided to throw open their bars in addition to screening the tournament.
These plans are currently for the India-Pakistan match on February 15, Sunday, but the establishments will take a call on other days depending on each match. While most of these pubs usually operate from noon onwards, on Sunday, they will welcome customers from 9 am itself, and serve liquor as well.
Bluefrog in Lower Parel is one of the places that is offering a special brunch menu for the occasion. “People are already reserving their tables. We have a brunch menu comprising salads, food, beer etc. The total package is Rs 2,500; inclusive of unlimited food, cocktails and liquor (yes, in the morning),” said bar manager Lalit Waghmare.
“Initially we did wonder if people would consume alcohol so early in the day but the bookings tell a different story,” he added. A separate menu has been put together for children. “For kids, it is Rs 1,000 for food and mocktails. And for the teetotallers, the amount is Rs 2,000,” said Waghmare. The Barking Deer in Lower Parel is also offering a similar option. “Yes, we are screening the India-Pakistan match. We haven’t decided about the other matches yet, but this Sunday is going to be huge,” said floor manager Umesh Bhandari.
About serving alcohol, he said: “Of course, we are starting from 9 am. It is a day after Valentine’s Day, so the mood will be upbeat too.” They are taking reservations but there will be no happy hours during the daytime.
Taking it a step further is the Py Bar, located at Hubtown Skybay, which is opening at 8.30 am so that customers can place their orders, relax and watch the action. The swanky eatery otherwise starts at 5 pm. Imran Patel, the restaurant manager said: “Our menu is reasonable and hence, the customers won’t even need happy hours to feed themselves. We are offering a breakfast menu of scrambled eggs, pancakes, varieties of omelettes and sandwiches, apart from alcohol.”
Redefining cricket fever is The Union Sports Bar & Grill, inside Palladium Mall, which has a menu dedicated to five World Cup-winning countries: West Indies, India, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. Nazir Sheikh, their assistant general manager, said: “We have chosen one particular product which is famous in the countries which won the World Cup in the last 10 editions and made a cocktail. For example, we have a cocktail called Paan Cooler dedicated to India.
For Australia, we have a Bloody Mary pitcher, rum and bitter egg white dedicated to the Caribbean, a drink made out of guava, cinnamon and Kashmiri chilly in honour of Pakistan. A drink made out of banana has been dedicated to the islanders (Sri Lanka).” However, alcohol will be served only post-11 am, due to permission-related issues. “Before that, we will serve regular food and tea, coffee,” said Sheikh.
