The town of Sandwich is ready for its biggest week in a decade.

The 149th Open golf championship, one of the world's greatest sporting events, has returned for the first time since 2011.

Sandwich firms get boost due to the championship

Traders are prepared for a boom with the mass of visitors to the town - up to 32,000 spectators are expected every day at the tournament until its end on Sunday, July 18.

It began on Sunday, on the day England were beaten by Italy in the Euro 2020 football final, and practice sessions continue until tomorrow (Wednesday) before the full-blown competition starts on Thursday.

Sandwich mayor Paul Graeme told KentOnline: "I think it's a tremendous event for Sandwich as it was in 2011. It brings and enormous amount of people into the town in the short term but there are also long term benefits.

"It's known at at least 50 to 60% of people that come to The Open will return to Sandwich within the two-year period."

Cllr Graham did not believe that the event and benefits to the town would by crippled by the coronavirus restrictions - the last restrictions are not lifted until Monday, July 19.

He said: "All traders in the town are obviously observing the Covid regulations but I'm sure that all the restaurants, pubs and hotels will be full."

Richard Harris, manager of the Fleur de Lis in Harnett Street, said his rooms were fully booked with corporate clients going to the tournament: "Hopefully this will be a boom for the town, much needed after the issue of Covid.

"It's going to be very different to 2011 because of the virus. It's certainly going to be a big week but obviously it could be better if Covid wasn't around.

"I still think every single restaurant and pub will be full to their capacity limits so it's still going to be a good thing for the town."

Sandwich's event of the decade was unmissable in the town in the days before it started. An old K6 telephone box in Cattle Market had been decorated with lines of replica golf course grass and had a mock-up giant ball inside.

Signposts for visitors were in place as well as signs on lamp posts heralding the arrival of the tournament.

Traffic cones were lined up on pavements like soldiers ready to be placed to stop parking in certain roads once the event begins. These included St George's Road, which is close to the venue, the Royal St George's course.

Pubs such as the Market Inn in Cattle Market advertised that they were screening the live TV coverage of the event.

Vicky Reynolds, of the New Inn in Harnett Street, is as pub landlady and veteran of the previous two Opens in Sandwich, in 2003 and 2011.

She said: "Because of The Open we will have live music from this Thursday to Sunday and all our overnight rooms are fully booked. We are certainly hoping also to get a big pull of clientele from the nearby campsite."

"We hope this year will really be on a par with 2011."

But David Short, owner and chef of the Strand Street Kitchen restaurant and take away, will stay closed from today until Friday.

He actually fears the centre of Sandwich during the day will be a "ghost town" because he believes there are too many parking restrictions.

Golf fans will spend the day at Royal St George's so it is hoped cash will mainly come into the town through the night-time economy and overnight guests.

He said: "Having looked at the restrictions put in place by Dover District Council, we think there will be very few people who will want to or be able to get into the centre of Sandwich during the golf in the daytime.

"They seem to be doing their very best to make the centre of Sandwich into a ghost town. On this street there is no parking whatsoever and you're going to need a permit to get into certain parts of Sandwich.

"We think we will get nobody from the golf because there's almost like a village of concessions at the course and we think the locals will be put off trying to come to the centre of Sandwich.

"That's either because of believing it's going to be clogged, which I don't think it will be, or that it'll be impossible to park or get in without a permit."

Dover District Council says it has worked with tournament organisers the R&A (Royal and Ancient) to ensure that people can easily access Sandwich town centre during The Open.

A council spokesman said: “Dover District Council car parks will be open and we’re ensuring that spectators don’t take up these spaces by introducing a maximum four hour stay.

“We’ve also worked with Sandwich Town Council and the local chamber (of commerce) to help local businesses make the most of the opportunity of having one of the world’s greatest sporting events taking place close to the town."

The Open has now been held at Royal St George's 15 times since 1894.

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