British life in Cape Town: roasts, rugby, the poppy

Cape Town is one of the easiest places in the world to feel British without trying, from carvery at a pub founded in 1852 to Remembrance at the Legion.

The short version

Time difference: South Africa is two hours ahead of the UK in winter and one hour ahead during British Summer Time, so the footie and the rugby are on at civilised hours.
Pubs and roasts: the Foresters Arms in Newlands, founded in 1852, does a Sunday carvery and shows the big matches; the Fireman's Arms in town does a pub-style roast [1][2].
Remembrance: there's no Royal British Legion branch here; the South African Legion has its Cape Town Branch at Rosedale in Rosebank and runs Poppy Day [3].
Cricket: Western Province Cricket Club in Rondebosch dates from 1864 and sits next to Newlands Cricket Ground [4].
We found no Royal Society of St George branch in Cape Town; the society lists a Port Elizabeth Women's Branch in South Africa [5].

A very British city, with its own story

The British took the Cape from the Dutch for good in 1806, and it shows: the Anglican cathedral, the street names, Newlands, cricket on a Saturday and a fondness for afternoon tea. Many South Africans have British grandparents, and plenty of Brits have been here for decades.

It's also a city with a hard history. Apartheid's legacy is visible in how Cape Town is laid out, and the colonial past isn't remembered fondly by everyone. A bit of curiosity helps: a visit to Robben Island, the District Six Museum and a few good books will teach you more than any expat forum. Locals are generous with welcome, and you'll learn to say "just now" (meaning some time, possibly never) and "lekker" (good) before long.

Pubs, roasts and a proper chippy

These are places we could verify on a 2026 page for the British basics:

Where	What it's good for	Area
Foresters Arms ("Forries"), 52 Newlands Avenue	Founded in 1852, one of South Africa's oldest pubs; Sunday carvery and plenty of screens for the big matches [1]	Newlands, by the rugby and cricket grounds
The Fireman's Arms, Buitengracht and Mechau Streets	Historic city pub dating from 1864; pub-style Sunday roast until 8pm, rugby and football on screen [2]	City centre
The Conservatory at The Cellars-Hohenort	Formal three-course Sunday roast in a five-star hotel [2]	Constantia
Lime Tree Café	Neighbourhood café with a Sunday roast that changes regularly [2]	Bergvliet
Mount Nelson hotel	Traditional afternoon tea in the Lounge, with piano	Gardens

Sources: Forries' own site [1]; Time Out Cape Town's Sunday roasts list, 16 September 2026 [2].

Fish and chips here is usually hake, sometimes snoek, and the best is eaten by a harbour: Kalk Bay and Hout Bay both have famous chippies. Our guide to British food, shops and pubs in Cape Town has the details, plus where to find Marmite, PG Tips and a Christmas pud.

The footie, the rugby and the cricket

Football

The Premier League is on South African TV, and the time difference is kind. A 3pm Saturday kick-off in the UK is 5pm in Cape Town in the British winter and 4pm in summer. Big sports bars and pubs such as Forries and the Fireman's Arms show the big games, but ring ahead if you need your team's match on, especially when it clashes with a Springbok Test.

Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all have large South African followings, so your shirt won't look out of place.

Rugby

This is a rugby city. The Stormers play in the United Rugby Championship, the competition they share with Welsh, Scottish, Irish and Italian sides, at DHL Stadium in Green Point. Their home game against the Sharks in January 2026 drew more than 40,000 people [6]. The City runs free MyCiTi shuttles from the city centre for ticket holders on big match days [6]. Watching a British or Irish side play at DHL Stadium, surrounded by locals in blue and white hoops, is an experience.

Cricket

Newlands Cricket Ground is one of the prettiest grounds in the world, with Table Mountain behind it. It hosts Tests, one-day internationals and the SA20, whose final was played there in January 2026 [6]. If England tour, the New Year's Test at Newlands is the hottest ticket in town and travelling England fans turn out in force.

To play, Western Province Cricket Club in Rondebosch, founded in 1864, is the obvious first call. It also offers hockey, squash, bowls, tennis and padel, and invites newcomers to ask about membership through its website [4].

Remembrance, the King's Birthday and the poppy

There's no Royal British Legion branch in South Africa that we could find. The role is filled by the South African Legion, founded after the First World War as the British Empire Service League by Earl Haig, General Smuts and General Sir H T Lukin [3]. Its Cape Town Branch and national headquarters are at Rosedale, Lower Nursery Road, Rosebank. It supports veterans and their families, runs the Poppy Day appeal and organises Remembrance services in Cape Town around 11 November [3].

The Transvaal Scottish Regimental Association also has a Western Cape Branch, with monthly lunches and parades for Remembrance, Delville Wood and El Alamein. Its website is undated, so check with the branch before turning up.

The British Consulate General is in Norton Rose House on Riebeek Street in the Foreshore, with public access by appointment only [7]. Official events such as the King's Birthday party are generally by invitation, so follow the UK in South Africa social media accounts to hear what's on.

Bonfire Night is a bit of a sore point. Fireworks are tightly controlled in Cape Town, and 5 November is more a nuisance for dog owners than a community bonfire. If you want sparklers and a toffee apple, find a private do.

St George's Cathedral on Wale Street, the mother church of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, is where many Brits go for Christmas carols, and Anglican parishes across the Southern Suburbs keep a very familiar order of service.

Clubs, business and politics

British Chamber of Business in Southern Africa: the business network for UK–South Africa trade, headquartered in Johannesburg with a presence in Cape Town. Useful if you're setting up or working for a British company.
Political parties abroad: Conservatives Abroad has a Cape Town branch, The Macmillan Club; Labour International covers South Africa through its Africa, Turkey and Middle East branch; and Lib Dems Overseas covers Liberal Democrat members outside Europe. If politics matters to you, our guide to voting from abroad explains how to register as an overseas voter.
No Royal Society of St George branch: the society's South Africa page lists only a Port Elizabeth Women's Branch [5].

Making friends

Cape Town has a big British community, but it's spread out, and lots of people socialise through their children's schools, a sports club or a church rather than a "British" club. A few things that work:

Join a club. Cricket, hockey, running, hiking and surf clubs are the quickest way in.
Say yes to braais. The South African barbecue is the social glue. Bring meat and something to drink.
Volunteer. The Legion, churches and animal charities all welcome help.
Give it time. The first year can be lonely. Our guide to the emotional side of moving abroad is honest about it.

And, of course, there's our community group for Brits in South Africa, here, full of people who'll tell you which pub shows the Championship and which one pours the best pint of something cold.

British life in Cape Town: Sunday roasts, Newlands, the Legion and finding your people