News
Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club completes extensive grounds investment
The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club (RCBPC) has completed a major, six-month long investment programme into its grounds, in time for one of the season’s biggest events.
The works started at the end of August 2024 and have been completed in time for the beginning of the Justerini & Brooks Prince of Wales Trophy on 3 May.
The venue’s ground 1 field has received the most investment, including fraze mowing to 15mm, which involves removing the top layer of turf to improve water absorption; shockwave aeration; verti draining which punctures and aerates the soil; overseeding to create thicker grass; and fertilising.
Initial works were carried out at the end of the 2024 summer season to allow for proper germination and the best result on the field.
Over the coming weeks, the RCBPC team will be verti draining ground 1 again and spreading more than 300 tonnes of sand across the field to ensure better water drainage, better grip for the ponies, and to reduce cupping and divots.
The works will ensure a more consistent playing surface forsmoother ball movement and safer conditions for both ponies and players, ultimately providing a more enjoyable experience.
Jamie Morrison, chairman of RCBPC, said: “We are very excited about the coming summer season. Ground 1 works are already visible. With the start of the season just around the corner, and the start of the Justerini & Brooks Prince of Wales Trophy almost here, we can't wait to get on the field.”
Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club announces first formal preferred supplier list
The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club (RCBPC) has announced its first formal preferred suppliers list, as part of plans to grow its weddings and private events.
Covering everything from power, staging, sound and lighting, marquees, food and entertainment, the list – now published on RCBPC’s website – will provide event planners and bookers with a one-stop-shop to suit a variety of budgets.
The list includes the Luxury Picnic Company; London florist Lavender Green; Royal Ascot supplier Lex Marquees; and Amie’s Kitchen, a female-run catering company that operates out of RCBPC’s facilities, who started as a hog roast vendor and now oversees the venue’s Royal Pavilion catering and La Cantina, the in house eatery.
RCBPC’s various spaces are available for hire for events of up to 10,000 attendees including weddings, corporate events, festivals and filming or photoshoots. Most recently, the Berkshire has been used as a filming location for The Crown, Bridgerton and Made in Chelsea.
The site includes a 80 capacity Clubhouse with a private bar and flatscreen television; the Royal Pavilion, which can accommodate up to 75 for sit-down indoor dining or up to 80 for patio dining and has a glass balcony overlooking the polo fields; and Sponsors’ Lawn, available for marquees or other temporary structures.
Lexi Lea, commercial & operations director at RCBPC, said: “We are delighted to announce our first formal preferred supplier list. These suppliers have worked with us for years and we know they can be trusted to always deliver to brief. As a family owned business that believes in partnerships, we are really pleased to have found a group of businesses that are really aligned with who we are and what we do.”