It’s that time of year when casual tennis fans take an interest and the latest and greatest in the sport descend on a small part of London.
Wimbledon is back, and this year looks set to be more gripping than ever, with some of the world’s leading athletes taking to the court and some legends (come on, Andy!) making their final appearance.
If you can’t wait to witness the on-court action and you’re looking for an ace place to see the matches, then read on to find out which venues in Abu Dhabi are showing the action live on screen.
Abu Dhabi Golf Club
It’s not all about teeing-off at this sports-friendly destination, in fact tennis will be taking over the Championship Lounge when Wimbledon begins on July 1. With five large screens showing the matches and a range of food and drink promotions, tennis fans can settle in to watch every gripping moment of the action live from the court.
Daily 4pm-11pm. Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Khalifa City A (056 536 2230).
Blue Sky Lounge and Grill
Keep up to date with every serve at this inviting Manchester City-themed sports bar. The venue might lean towards the blue side of Manchester but it shows all kinds of live sport on the screens, not just football. With a total of 14 HD screens dotted across the room there’s no such thing as a poor vantage point. With daily happy hour deals until 11pm, food promotions and more, you can also make a day of it.
Sun-Thu 3pm-3am; Fri-Sat noon-3am. Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, Al Zahiyah (02 818 4888).
Coopers Bar and Restaurant
This popular pub is the go-to spot for many sports fans who are looking to watch big matches in a chilled environment. It’s a great place to see the tennis, and with screens positioned all across the room, you’ll always be able to keep one eye on the match without straining your neck. Plus, with daily happy hour deals running from noon to 8pm and a bar bites menu full of great grub, what more could you possibly want?
Open daily noon-2.30am. Park Rotana Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Park area (02 657 3333).
McGettigan’s
Let’s face it, McGettigan’s is already something of an institution in the capital and it’s also a top please to see some live sport. The Irish pub always attracts a crowd, so if you fancy watching the on-court action in a place with a good atmosphere then this is probably the spot for you. Plus, with a daily happy hour from opening until 10pm and traditional favourites like bangers and mash and fish and chips on the menu, hours will pass by in a flash.
Sun-Thu 3pm-3am; Fri-Sat noon-3am. Al Raha Beach Hotel & Resort, Channel Street (02 652 4333).
NRG Sports Cafe
The best sports bar winner from the Time Out Abu Dhabi Music and Nightlife Awards 2019, for our money, is a great palce to see live sport. Whether it’s indoors in air conditioned sanctuary or outdoors on th big screens embracing the sun. You can see all the action live from Wimbledon here and keep up with every serve while enjoying great deals on beverages and som great food too.
Daily 4pm-2.30am. Le Meridien Abu Dhabi, Al Zahiyah (02 304 8209).
PJ O’Reilly’s
We love this traditional Irish pub, and with Wimbledon being shown on the big screens this summer, we now have another good excuse to pay it a visit. With screens showing the action upstairs and downstairs, it’s a cosy place to grab a seat and watch the tournament. There’s also daily happy hour deals and a menu packed full of comforting pub grub like pies, ribs and fish and chips, which provides all the more reason to head there for a match or two.
Sun-Wed noon-2am; Thu noon-3am; Fri-Sat 9am-3am. Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa Street (02 695 0515).
The Sports Cafe
From footbal and cricket to tennis you can see all the live sport you coul ever want live on screens at this trendy sports bar. With screens all over the room including two large HD screens at the front you’ll struggle to miss a moment from Wimbledon at this bar. Plus, with some classic bar food and beverage deals on offer it’s a good option for settling down to watch a match this year.
Sat-Thurs 4pm-2am. Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Al Maqta (02 654 3238).
The Sportsman’s Arms
If a sports bar is located slap-bang in the middle of an international tennis centre, then you’d expect it to be showing Wimbledon, right? Of course you would, and with eight HD screens throughout the room and two projectors you won’t miss a moment as the tournament goes on. Settling in for a match or two? You can enjoy daily happy hour deals from noon to 8pm as well as all the Irish-American food you could ever want. The hearty burgers and portions of shepherd’s pie are particularly great.
Daily 8am-2am. International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City (02 447 1066).
Velocity
Heading downtown? It’s basically impossible not to see the action at this cool sports bar, with screens dominating the wall space and everywhere you turn your head. The staff even have sporting referee-inspired uniforms too, so you know they’re serious about sport at this city hangout. Plus, with a range of promotions, including drinks from Dhs15 between 4pm and 7pm and all the bar bites you could want, it’s very tempting to settle down for a few hours with friends and watch all the exciting action from London.
Sun-Wed 4pm-2am; Thu-Fri noon-3am; Sat noon-2am. Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street (02 304 7777).
Staying at home?
If you don’t plan on being out and about for the tennis action this summer then you can watch the matches live from the comfort of your own home. BeIN Sports will be showing all the matches throughout the tournament and with a special summer promotion package you can also see Copa America, African Cup of Nations and more.
