Stansted’s Rose and Crown pub to unveil its own pétanque court

A growing love for the French game of pétanque has resulted in a Stansted pub building its own court.

The bowls-like game, which is traditionally played in town and village squares across France, has taken off at the Rose and Crown in Bentfield Green.

Having joined the regional pétanque league last year along with a handful of other pubs in the area, such was the enthusiasm for the game among the community that it has now built its own playing court.

The new pétanque piste will be officially opened on Easter Monday (April 21), with the pub hosting a day of food and entertainment and an invitation for people to try the game.

“What started as a casual way to bring locals together has blossomed into something truly special,” said the Rose and Crown’s team captain Harry Bradshaw.

“The league has brought in new faces, sparked new friendships and rekindled a strong sense of togetherness, all over a game traditionally played in village squares across France.

“While a few of our team members were seasoned players, the majority had never tossed a boule in their lives. But that didn’t stop them – the response from the community has been nothing short of amazing.”

Ahead of the new season in June, the pub has organised a trip to Stansted’s twin town of Rungis to enjoy a few matches on French soil.

The aim of the game, which is played on a gravel surface, is to score points by tossing a hollow steel ball closest to the jack or target ball. There are more than 150 affiliated pétanque clubs across England.