The Wallaby's, the Australian atmosphere on Foch boulevard

La galaxie des pubs anglophones d'Angers va bientôt accueillir un nouveau membre avec le Wallaby's. Situé boulevard Foch, l'enseigne a été ouverte par Hervé Guérinel, qui avait déjà lancé à Angers et à Rennes, plusieurs pubs irlandais. Avec l'entrée de la France dans la coupe du monde de football, le Wallaby's, issu d'une culture où le rugby est plutôt la référence, a réussi vendredi dernier son premier essai.

The Angers community of English speaking countries pubs and bars will include in the days to come a new member : the Wallaby's, an Australian place located on Foch boulevard. His manager, Hervé Guérinel, is pleased : a opening test has been successfully passed last Friday with the new staff of 6 persons having in common a fluency in English. The Wallaby's is not for Mr. Guerinel the first try. The man, formerly settled in Rennes, had opened there an Irish pub, since sold but still alive, the O'Connell, then, in Angers, he repeated the experience with the James Joyce, face to the Congress centre, itself sold, but still alive.

"With a 30 000 students population, the Wallaby's will be attractive" predicts Hervé Guérinel who starts there with a new concept. "Originally, I wanted to join the Australian franchise Oz which has already several pubs in Paris. But I'm rather independant and I wanted to lean on my own experience. With the Wallaby's we have worked, with Patrick Letendre, a specialist in the painting design of pubs, on the nobility of materials". The colors, the items and the furniture produce an atmosphere both foreign and original, a mix of travels universe and desertic areas. On the 300 m2, two main spaces will soon be settled : one for the usual customers and another one for the companies looking for a private room for meetings or lunch, closed to be finished.

"Gradually, our beverage and food carte will include Australian brands and meals", says Mr. Guérinel. The Wallaby's owner, 50 years old, has fulfilled his career in the hotel and restaurant business. After a hotel school in Brittany, he worked in famous places like the Bristol or the Plazza in Paris. After a come back in his native land, he came in Angers where he set up Eat'Aly and the Cuccina Cantina, a culinary workshop near the Congress centre. If the Wallaby's refers to a culture where rugby is one of the most visible characteristics, the place wants also "surf" on the current soccer World Cup. The first match of the French team was a good test. As for the Wallaby's.