During the World Cup the Front Yard in Hamilton was packed with everyone enjoying the place’s two new jumbo television screens.

Things got so busy that for certain games every seat in the house was taken and there was standing room only. Entertainment had to be put on hold.

“Nobody wanted to listen to music,” said Ryan Gibbons, front of house and hospitality manager. “We are only getting back to that now.”

The World Cup coincided with the Front Yard’s fifth anniversary.

When Richard Phillips, Sandy Rodrigues and Tom Steinhoff first opened the business they envisioned more of a hybrid coffee shop and bar. However, they became so busy with evening entertainment that it became hard to open early.

“Nobody really wanted to get up to open at 7am when we had only just closed at 3am,” Mr Steinhoff said. “You can’t be everything for everybody.”

Because Richard and Sandy Phillips ran Generosa’s Cuisine food truck before partnering with Mr Steinhoff, the business was initially called Generosa’s at The Front Yard.

“Technically, it is still Generosa’s at The Front Yard but everyone had just shortened it to Front Yard,” Mr Gibbons explained.

One of their biggest challenges is the weather. The Front Yard is open-air.

The Royal Gazette met the business team on a wet, rainy afternoon. Despite the weather there was still a large party of visitors enjoying themselves under a protective awning.

The Front Yard has mitigated some of its weather woes with tents for the rain, fans to cool things down on hot days and dark & stormy cocktails for particularly wretched days.

Mr Steinhoff is proud of the role they have played in livening up Front Street.

“Bermuda needs entertainment and a fun atmosphere for our visitors and locals,” he said. “The venue has become a melting pot of everybody from insurance execs to local construction guys to a wide mix of visitors and residents.”

While the Front Yard has become known as a good place to get a drink, it also has food.

A popular dish is the preferido — hammered steak slices marinated in garlic with fried onions, Portuguese cheese and a piri piri mayo. Another crowd-pleaser is the chicken wings and a brisket picnic platter.

“Taste is subjective, but the shrimp Mozambique is also a top seller,” Mr Gibbons said. “You can sub the shrimp out for chicken.”

Mr Gibbons, a newcomer to The Front Yard staff, was impressed by the strong local team there.

“There are two work-permit holders,” he said. “Everyone else on staff is either local or married to a local.”

Staff numbers fluctuate around 35 people.

“The Front Yard is no longer the new kid on the block,” Mr Gibbons said. “It has become a landmark in its own right.”