Stratford eateries are on the front line as Rugby World Cup fever begins to heat up.
The first game on September 11 between Ireland and the Eagles (USA) at New Plymouth will be followed by Russia and the Eagles on the 15th, and Wales and Namibia on the 26th
Stephen Graham at Malone's on Broadway says they open at 11am and they'll stay open into the early hours depending on how busy they are.
``We're prepared,'' he said, for an influx of visitors who may stop in for refreshments as they travel north to New Plymouth, or south on their return.
Of course Malone's will be cheering for Ireland, but the vein of national pride runs deep and it's all go for the All Blacks around here.
However, Mr Graham admits he's more a league man: former Hawera player and his nephew Isaac Luke plays at number 9 for the Rabbitohs, but he's happy to back the Blacks for the cup.
Urban Attitude's Ming Ma says he's open from 7am-5pm weekdays and Saturday's he's open from 8.30am-2pm, but he's flexible and happy to accommodate any special requests.
Nelson Cafe's Chris Suter says they're open seven days a week, and from 7am through the week.
``We'll definitely be well-stocked.''
School holidays falls during the RWC and the Rhododendron Festival will follow, so there will be plenty of mouths to feed over the next few months, Mrs Suter said.
Step in to Sharyn Roberts and Jenny Bower's Casa Pequena and there's no doubt the RWC is on.
The Welsh dragon adorns a wall, bunting hangs in the cafe and the staff wear headscarves bearing the dragon.
The women are open weekday mornings from 5am and Saturdays from 6am, so they're bound to catch the early-morning travellers who want to tuck in to a hearty breakfast. And if it looks like they'll need to be open on the
Sunday, then these friendly hosts will be obliging.
Bunting with the flags of the competing countries is available for retailers to adorn their shop frontages, and seeing them flapping in the breeze as you drive through Eltham and Waverley is a welcoming sight.
Shops from the roundabout down, have been given a country to promote.
But the bunting is missing from Stratford retailers' frontages on Broadway.
Stratford Business Association (SBA) chairman John Sandford said a BA5 was held in New Plymouth where the RWC promoters had discussed preprations for the cup game, and in June the bunting was offered to members at the discounted price of $11.90.
SBA secretary Erin Self said some businesses took up the offer once they saw the bunting; Central Tyres has hung its bunting on the exterior while others like Casa Pequena and Eve's Garden Centre and others have hung theirs on the interior.
Ms Self said she thought retailers may have been reluctant to hang the RWC flags on their frontages due to vandalism. ``You can take a horse to water,'' was Mr Sandford's response.
