Twickenham traders divided over impact of Rugby World Cup on business

The Richmond and Twickenham Times hit the streets to find out how traders felt the tournament had gone so far.

Stuart Sandys, owner of Sandys Fishmongers in Heath Road, said: "For us, it has been very negative overall.

"Our trade is 20-30 per cent down on a normal rugby day.

"The big thing is the closure of the A316 - the signs just say 'A316 closed' rather than explaining its only in part, so people avoid Twickenham and Richmond."

But for pubs and restaurants, it has been a different story.

Gearoid Gurn, manager of The Fox in Church Street, said: "It has been a positive experience overall.

"I will be sad when it's over, we embrace it here."

Remy Sousquer, deputy manager at Chicago Rib Shack in York Street, said: "There have been some quieter weekends and we expected a few more tourists.

"But mostly it has been positive for us."

For Kanu Shah, who owns JKS News and Off Licence in London, the Rugby World Cup experience has been "rubbish".

He added: "The way it has been organised, it is the RFU who make the most, not the town.

"None of the shops have been doing extra trade - all the fans have been staying at the beer tents at the stadium."

For others, however, it has been business as usual as the third-largest sporting event in the world has had very little effect at all.

Daniel Gray, a trainee at Timspon in York Street, said: "It's not really been affecting our business.

"We have had a few quiet days but that could happen anyway."

Peter Pearce, owner of Wild Goose in Church Street, said: "We aren't open to the public anymore so it doesn't affect us much.

"But I've been here 20 years and the rugby has always been bad for our business."

Sophie King, owner of The Bloomery in Church Street, said: "I thought it would be quite bad.

"When people come to the street during the rugby, they want to drink, not buy flowers.

"But it has been really fun, although I will be relieved when it is all over."

But for Paul Cooper, who owns the recently refurbished P Cooper and Sons greengrocers in Heath Road, it has been a case of taking the rough with the smooth.

He said: "Everyone keeps asking me about the World Cup - I was on BBC New Zealand the other day.

"Obviously it has had an effect, people are disappointed but we are a rugby town.

"The problem is they have more stuff this time - the RFU kept a lot of stuff up by the stadium, which is wrong."