The Six Nations Rugby Bar in NYC
Every February and March, East 14th Street opens early for the Guinness Six Nations. Sound on, Guinness poured, all six nations welcome.
Saturday morning, sorted
You know the drill. You drag yourself out of bed for a morning kickoff, walk into a so-called sports bar, and the commentary is buried under a brunch playlist. Then someone tells you they can’t pour a pint yet.
Not here. The Winslow is a Six Nations rugby bar in NYC, at 243 East 14th Street where the East Village meets Union Square and Gramercy. Every year, when the Guinness Six Nations comes around, we open early, turn the sound up and pour from the moment the doors open.
It’s our busiest stretch of the year, and these are the rules we run it by. For the rest of the rugby calendar, see our rugby bar page.
Our Six Nations house rules
Doors open 30 minutes before the first kickoff
Whatever time the first match of the day starts, we're open half an hour ahead of it.
Pints pour when the doors open
If the match kicks off in the morning, you can have a proper pint in the first half, not a lukewarm coffee.
Sound on, always
Rugby isn't rugby without the referee's mic and the stadium roar. During the Six Nations, the match audio beats any playlist.
First come, first served
No reservations and no held tables during the tournament. Bring your squad and arrive 30 to 45 minutes early for the big ones.
Neutral ground
England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales fans are all equally welcome. The banter is high. The manners stay higher.
How the Six Nations works
The Six Nations is an annual international rugby union championship between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. It began in 1883 as the Home Nations Championship, became the Five Nations when France joined in 1910, and took its current name in 2000 when Italy arrived.
- Format: a round robin. Each team plays every other team once, which makes 15 matches over five rounds in February and March. Home and away swap each year.
- Points: 4 for a win, 2 for a draw, 0 for a loss.
- Bonus points: 1 for scoring four or more tries, and 1 for losing by seven points or fewer.
- Grand Slam bonus: a team that wins all five matches gets 3 extra points, so it can’t be caught on the table.
Because the matches are played in Europe, most kickoffs land in the morning or early afternoon in New York. Hence the early doors, and the brunch.
Trophies worth shouting about
The Grand Slam
Beat all five other nations in one tournament. Rare, and the loudest morning of the year when it happens.
The Triple Crown
Won by one of the four Home Nations (England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales) beating the other three.
The Calcutta Cup
England against Scotland, the oldest trophy in the tournament, first played for in 1879.
The other rivalry trophies
The Millennium Trophy (England and Ireland), the Centenary Quaich (Ireland and Scotland), the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy (France and Italy), the Auld Alliance Trophy (France and Scotland), the Doddie Weir Cup (Wales and Scotland) and the Cuttitta Cup (Italy and Scotland).
The Wooden Spoon
The trophy nobody wants, for finishing last. Unofficial, and never mentioned near the fans concerned.
Getting here for an early kickoff
We’re at 243 East 14th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, on the north side of the street.
- From Brooklyn on the L: get off at 3rd Avenue, take the 14th Street and 3rd Avenue exit, and walk east half a block.
- From uptown, Queens or the Bronx: take the 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R or W to Union Square, then walk east on 14th Street for about five minutes.
The L crowd tends to arrive first. If you’re coming through Union Square, give yourself a few extra minutes, especially on a big weekend. Once you’re in, the menu is waiting.
Six Nations questions
Do I need a reservation for Six Nations matches?
No, and we can't take one. Every table is first come, first served during the tournament. For the big matches, arrive 30 to 45 minutes before kickoff.
Can I get a drink at a morning kickoff?
Yes. We serve from the moment the doors open, so you can have a pint during the first half of a morning match.
Is the sound on?
Yes. If the Six Nations is on, the sound is on. During the tournament we're a rugby bar first.
Are you a supporters' bar for one country?
No. We're neutral ground, and fans of all six nations are equally welcome.
When is the Six Nations played?
Every year in February and March, over five rounds. Kickoff times are set by the organizers each season.
How do I find out what time you open on a match day?
We open 30 minutes before the first kickoff of the day. For this season's opening times, follow @thewinslownyc on Instagram or call 212-777-7717.
Get here early, get a good seat
No reservations, no held tables, just rugby with the sound on. Bring your squad to 243 East 14th Street.