The Grasshopper pub in Hillside, Merseyside, located just a stone's throw from Royal Birkdale, has reported a record-breaking day on Tuesday as The 154th Open got underway. Owners Phillip and Katherine Harvey said they sold over 800 pints alone on that day, with hundreds of visitors from around the world pouring into the venue.
Record-Breaking Day for Local Pub
Speaking to the ECHO, Katherine Harvey said: "We’ve been really busy. We had a record-breaking day on Tuesday and we’re expecting good things the rest of the week. It’s been a really good mix of people which is always nice." The couple, who took over the pub in 2017, have tripled their staff to keep up with demand, opening from 11am until around 11pm.
The Open, one of golf's most prestigious events, officially begins on Thursday, July 16, with practice days earlier in the week. Thousands of golf fans have already flooded into nearby towns, with hundreds of thousands expected over the course of the week.
Global Visitors and Local Regulars
Katherine noted the diverse crowd: "We’ve had new visitors along with our locals which is super important for us. We want to keep our regulars, they are our bread and butter. They have still been coming in and they’ve been absolutely amazing. We’ve also had some lovely visitors, a real big mix of people: Americans, Canadians, English, Germans, French."
The pub's regular customers have been supportive, even helping bring in glasses during busy periods. Katherine emphasized the importance of maintaining their loyal customer base while welcoming new faces.
Economic Impact on Small Business
Katherine highlighted the financial boost from the event: "An event like this is essential for us. This will help us to keep going again for a few months. It’s a really difficult market at this moment in time, especially for traders like ours." Despite increased costs from tripling staff, turnover has quadrupled. The couple are committed to keeping prices low for regulars, resisting pressure to raise them.
Royal Birkdale has been a regular host of The Open since 1954, second only to St Andrews. This year's championship features top players including Southport's Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, and defending champion Scottie Scheffler.
