BARS, rugby clubs and pubs around Gwent are expecting a Grand Slam bonanza this weekend, with some predicting they will ring up thousands more pounds in sales on Saturday.

Of the 20 venues contacted by the Argus yesterday, all said they expect a substantial sales boost as fans pack them out to watch the Wales Vs France match – something welcomed by bars hard-hit by the recession over the past few years.

Landlord of the Coach and Horses, Chepstow, Ian Meyrick usually pulls 300 pints on a Saturday, but is expecting to sell around 1,500 – that would mean more than £3,000 extra in revenue that day.

Paul and Karen Chapman from The Dodger in Newport have called in extra staff and have spent around £1,000 on extra stock.

The King’s Arms in Abergavenny expects to sell more than 1,000 pints on the day while Scrum Half, Pontypool, could sell more than 1,000 pints instead of the usual 500 on Saturdays.

The Rodney Parade clubhouse, Newport, will be packed, with the game live on a big screen, opening at 12pm with free curry for the first 50 people to arrive.

In Pill, the Picton will show the match on the big screen, while at the Irish Club, extra Guinness has been bought in as it is also St Patrick’s Day.

Large crowds are also expected at The Lamb in Newport, Y Coed Duon and The New Foresters, Blackwood.

A spokesman for pub chain Wetherspoon’s said he expects its bars in Newport – The Queen’s Hotel, The Godfrey Morgan, The Tom Toya Lewis and John Wallace Linton – to have their busiest day of 2012 so far.

He added: “When Wales play rugby, it is very beneficial to the chain.”

Other Gwent pubs owned by the chain such as The Sirhowy, Blackwood, The John Capel Hanbury, Pontypool, The Picture House, Ebbw Vale and The Olympia, Tredegar, are also expected to be packed for the big game.

Iftekhar Haris, who owns six venues in Newport and Cwmbran, said he expects them to be extremely busy.

He said extra screens and chairs will be at Delilah’s in Newport while the Peri Peri Grill in Cwmbran is also expecting a big crowd.

Abercarn Rugby Club’s staff said it is also expecting to be packed out.

Supermarkets are also expecting an increase in sales as fans staying at home also stock up on food and beer.

South Wales Chamber of Commerce director Graham Morgan said the initial trade boost during Saturday’s game will also reinforce Wales’ image as a country, and businesses will reap the benefits afterwards as rugby fans fromother nations see it as a potential holiday destination or place to do business.

Dr Jonathan Deacon from Newport University’s business school, said major food retailers and pubs will do well, but city centres will be quiet on Saturday afternoon.

If Wales wins, there could also be a feel-good factor which could increase worker productivity, he said.