With half a decade on the books, The Tavern Sports Bar is rounding the plump but promising age of 5. Known throughout the expat community as the go-to sports bar, its hefty menu, pool tables and, of course, live game coverage have cemented its position as a staunch favorite. Despite growing competition in the industry, The Tavern remains packed with devoted clientele, though most regulars have no idea how the tale began.
Nowadays, a pub crawl in Guangzhou could stretch in all directions, from the streets of Huajiu and Xingsheng to the districts of Haizhu and Panyu. Yet five years ago, when Zhujiang New Town was just that — ‘new’ — aspiring pub entrepreneurs from the UK would have been silly not to settle amidst the mounds of dirt and construction cranes claiming to be the next city center. It is China, after all.
So in August of ’09, after his daughter’s 18th birthday, The Tavern co-founder Johnny Morgan packed his bags and moved to China’s southern capital, in response to persuasive calls from his buddies Dave and Haley. Far from being a newcomer to the restaurant and bar industry, however, Morgan arrived with a decorated resume that began as early as age 14, when he worked at a hotel, before managing bars with his father three years later as the youngest pub landlord in the UK.
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Back then, The Tavern was a new concept in town, a place for wistful Westerners to pull up a barstool and shoot the breeze or young Chinese to lock lips with that unforgettable shepherd’s pie they’d tasted while studying abroad. The restaurant and bar officially opened that December, only to face a challenging start once the holiday season exodus hit.
It wasn’t until the summer of 2010 that The Tavern really kicked into gear. Loyal football fans would know it as World Cup season, a time when brackets replace sleep, beer replaces water and jerseys hang in men’s closets like Superman suits — ready to throw on upon news that the world is ending.
“That year, we called ourselves ‘World Cup central,’” recalls Johnny. “We promised to screen every game and we did. It was four weeks of madness.” The season ended, eventually, but The Tavern’s fame lived on. Even months later, long after crowds of patriotic football fans had returned to the stiff reality of desk jobs, it was impossible to find a seat after 7pm.
The Tavern responded by opening a second, more spacious branch in Panyu District, which drew diehard fans and local clientele who fell in love with the live music. Last year, the esteemed pub even found its way into Shekou, Shenzhen, where it’s been trying to tackle a completely different customer base, albeit with a similar approach.
Today, guests will find The Tavern’s Zhujiang branch newly expanded, with the second floor boasting nearly twice the amount of seating in addition to a new bar area. Pool players will be glad to see both tables up and running as well, keeping queues to a minimum.
For the guys — and gal — behind The Tavern, Guangzhou turned out to be the beginning of one incredible journey. With no intention of heading back to England, the three founders attribute their lengthy stay to the attractive lifestyle, fascinating diversity and easygoing clientele that characterize life in southern China. That is, after all, what a tavern’s all about.
// Listing.
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