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summer hospitality 51 Boodles of fun


For the perfect location for your event this summer, look no further than Stoke Park. With the sun reflecting from the beautiful, white Palladian Mansion, it is hard to think of a more luxurious location, writes Nick Downie of Stoke Park


Nestled in 350 acres of rolling parkland, Stoke Park offers undeniable luxury. As well as being the UK’s first country club, it holds the finest of today’s sporting, leisure, entertaining and hotel facilities. These facilities include a 27-hole championship golf course designed by Harry S Colt, including what is arguably Colt’s finest hole, the seventh, which inspired the notorious 16th at Augusta National, home of the US Masters.


The estate also boasts a five AA star hotel, state-of-the-art gym, award- winning spa, three restaurants (including two AA Rosette ‘Humphry’s’) and 13 tennis courts.


Among these are the six Wimbledon specification grass tennis courts which play host to the annual Boodles challenge. Past players at the tournament include Andy Murray, Andre Agassi and world number one Novak Djokovic. This year Juan Martin Del Potro, John Isner, Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet, Aleksandr Dolgopolov and Stanislas Wawrinka have all been confirmed to play.


Throughout the afternoon tennis may be viewed from your private courtside box, located just behind the baseline. Chilled champagne and pimms are provided to keep you refreshed while the players battle it out on court. A fabulous full afternoon tea is then served in the players enclosure, to complete your day.


Whether you are looking for a five-star hospitality package to impress friends or clients, or a handful of tickets to entertain the kids one afternoon then you need look no further. The Boodles Tennis Challenge is an intimate, luxurious and fun way to spend the day; please visit www. theboodles.com for further details.


With guests returning year after year, the Boodles might still be the best kept secret on the international tennis circuit but after 11 years the word is getting out so book today to avoid disappointment.


This is far from being the only hospitality opportunity at Stoke Park this summer. If you have been to the Boodles and fancy a game yourself, why not try a corporate tennis clinic with one of the resident pros? Bring your guests along to polish up their skills before getting the chance to use them in a tournament which will finish off the day. Stoke Park’s Italian brasserie, San Marco, offers the perfect complement to all that activity with its light, healthy but mouth-watering take on salads, paninis, pizza and pasta.


Novak Djokovic playing at the Boodles


Set within the lavish and beautiful grounds of Stoke Park, the Boodles allows the world’s best players to compete on grass in the week leading up to the championships at Wimbledon. The unique mix of an intimate English garden party and a select field of the world’s top tennis professionals creates a viewing and entertainment experience that the big tournaments just can’t match; perfect for corporate hospitality.


Guests at the Boodles will view world class players, while experiencing sumptuous five-star catering without the crowds and queues of the Grand Slams. At The Boodles, no seat is further than eight metres from the court and lunch can be found by taking a leisurely stroll through Stoke Park’s immaculate private gardens.


The players enclosure package is the most lavish way to enjoy your day at the Boodles yet also intimate and wonderfully relaxed; a five-star package for those who want the best. The day will start with a glass or two of champagne pommery while you browse the exclusive jewels on display in the Boodles Gallery, and is followed by a sumptuous gourmet lunch and entertaining interviews with the tennis stars before they take to the court.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MAY 2012 www.businessmag.co.uk


But let’s not forget about that 27-hole golf course. Play nine, 18 or even all 27 holes on a tailor-made golf day at Stoke Park. Enjoy the immaculate greens of Colt’s course, designed to work with the ‘Capability’ Brown and Humphry Repton designed landscape, as part of a corporate clinic with the Jonathan Yarwood golf academy or as part of a competition. After a day on the links, refuel in Humphry’s, Stoke Park’s two AA Rosette fine dining restaurant, as you sample the innovative modern British cuisine of Chris Wheeler.


With such a variety of options available, Stoke Park will always be able to offer a day which is ideal for your needs.


Details: 01753-717171 www.stokepark.com


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