We are always looking for fun events to recommend to our Pavilion members at our Business Member’s Club in High Street Kensington. The Audi Polo Challenge every year heralds the start of the polo season, and is often one of the first of the summer events that get us all talking. This year was no exception as some of the hottest celebrities graced Cowarth Park in Ascot to watch Prince Harry and Prince William play alongside the England squad.
If you were unable to attend last weekend’s fixture, we have looked around for the best of polo this summer. Although you will have to venture outside of Kensington, we assure you that it’s worth it. Smart up, because the dress code for polo is always ‘dress to impress’.
Chesterton’s Polo in the Park, Hurlingham Park – 5/6/7th June
Hurlingham Park is a unique venue in Fulham, just 20 minutes from the Pavilion offices, and home to the largest polo tournament in Europe: Polo in the Park. The rules for the game have been tweaked to make the action more fast paced and exciting, and as a visitor you are guaranteed three matches each day
Tickets are available for Friday 5th June, to witness England’s first match at Hurlingham Park since 1939! Unreserved seating tickets for Saturday 6th have already sold out, but hospitality packages are still available for Ladies Day, and there are still tickets across all spectrums available for Sunday which includes the exciting finals and what promises to be the biggest Brunch party of the summer, along with the “Pitch Invasion” for children to get involved while parents can relax from the comfort of the bar (www.polointheparklondon.com)
Prince of Wales Trophy, Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club – Saturday 13th June
The Prince of Wales trophy attracts some of the best teams from across the world each year since its beginnings in 1986, and is recognised as one of the four major tournaments in the English high goal polo season.
Celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, expect the tournament to be even bigger and better than ever. Hospitality packages are very reasonable for this fixture, and we suggest combining it with a stay in a local hotel; such as The Oakley Court, or Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa. You can then spend Sunday nosing around the gorgeous shops that Windsor has to offer in the Windsor Royal Shopping Centre, housed in a converted 1850s railway station, retaining many of its original features. (www. theprinceofwalestrophy.com)
British Polo Day, Black Bear’s Polo Club – Saturday 20th June
An event so exclusive you have to apply for an invitation to Abercrombie and Kent themselves, British Polo Day UK is one of a series of fixtures across the world that has so far already included Dubai and Morocco. For Great Britain’s fixture, you will have to venture just outside London to Henley-on-Thames.
Not just a polo event but also a showcase for some of the best in British luxury brands including Jaeger-LeCoultre, Land Rover and Hackett, British Polo day has been growing in strength and reputation in the last six years. Each event features polo players from some of Britain’s leading institutions including Eton, Harrow, Oxford and Cambridge among others; pitched again a team from the host country. In this case: Eton will be playing the Balvanera Polo Club from Mexico, and the British Exiles will take on the Commonwealth.
The tour is set to continue to China, Singapore, Mexico and India later this year, so why not incorporate these into a larger holiday break? (www.britishpoloday.com/events/great-britain)
Finals Days, Guards Polo Club – Sundays 14/21/28th June and Saturday 25th July
For those that are fans of the sport rather than attending an event, we recommend the trip to Ascot to attend one of the cup finals at Guards Polo Club.
The Cartier Queen’s Cup, The Bentley Royal Windsor Cup, The Archie David Cup and The Royal Salute Coronation Cup are all played over the next two months. These are smaller tournaments, but not less important to polo players, and with the backdrop of Windsor Castle, the surroundings of Berkshire are extremely welcoming to visitors escaping the frenzy of the city, while being within 50 minutes of central London.
Another draw to this club is the Guards Polo Store by La Martina, which caters for both players patrons and the public, both with equipment and fashion. It is open across the summer season, though expect it to be especially busy on match days. (www.guardspoloclub.com)
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