Elquemedo Willett Park: Nevis's Beloved Home of Cricket
Charlestown's sporting heart, where island cricket legends are made
Why Go
Formerly known as Grove Park, this modest but historic ground in the heart of Charlestown was renamed in 2010 to honour Elquemedo Tonito Willett, the first Leeward Islander ever to pull on a West Indies Test shirt. Turn up on match day and you're not just watching cricket, you're standing in a slice of Caribbean sporting history.
The Experience
Set right on the edge of Nevis's tiny capital, Elquemedo Willett Park is the kind of open, breezy sporting complex where the whole island seems to filter through at some point. It's the home ground for both the Nevis team and the Leeward Islands, and has hosted first-class cricket since January 1977. On a match day the atmosphere is pure small-island Caribbean, families under sea grape trees, a rum shop soundtrack of soca drifting over the boundary, and locals happy to explain the finer points of a leg-glance to any visitor who asks. When cricket isn't on, the park hums with primary-school sports meets, tape-ball tournaments and community track events, so there's almost always something going on. Even a quiet afternoon stroll around the perimeter gives you a real feel for daily life in Charlestown, far from the resort bubble.
What to Try
Time your visit around a Leeward Islands fixture or a Nevis Premier League cricket match if you can, tickets are inexpensive and the crowd is famously welcoming. If the calendar doesn't cooperate, aim for the annual Gulf Insurance Primary Schools Championship or the Inter-Primary Sports Meet in early April, where you'll see the whole island cheering on its youngest athletes. Bring a cold Carib, a sun hat, and time to chat with the regulars behind the pavilion.
Insider Tip
Willett's birthday in April and the July 28 anniversary of the renaming are the moments locals reminisce about the man himself, ask any older spectator about 'Tonito' and you'll be treated to stories that no guidebook will ever print. The scoreboard end catches the best afternoon breeze off the sea, so set up your folding chair on that boundary.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Grove Park area, central Charlestown, Nevis, a short walk from the ferry pier and downtown shops. Hours vary entirely by event schedule, there are no fixed visitor hours, so check the Nevis Cricket Association or Ministry of Sports listings before heading over. Entry to the grounds is free outside of ticketed matches, and match tickets are typically cash-only at the gate in EC dollars. No dedicated parking lot, most visitors walk in from town.
Pair It With
- 869 Sports Bar & Grill Guide — Just down the road and the natural post-match spot to dissect the day's play over a cold beer and Caribbean pub food.
- Buju's Place Guide — Casual, no-frills local eats that make an easy lunch stop before an afternoon session at the park.
- Chrishi Beach Club Guide — Trade the boundary rope for the sand, this laid-back beach club is a perfect sundown wind-down after a hot day of cricket.
- Drift Restaurant Guide — When you want to upgrade the day into a proper evening, Drift's polished coastal dining is a short drive from Charlestown.