We are delighted to announce a new invitation for our Members to enjoy the prestigious Cartier Queen’s Cup 2023 at Guards Polo Club, Smith’s Lawn, Windsor Great Park. This is the jewel in the crown of English polo, and a quintessentially English sporting day, attracting the world’s top players and encapsulating the best of the English Season. This 22-goal tournament runs for six weeks, climaxing with the Semi-Finals and the Finals, when HM The Queen traditionally presented her trophy to the winning team.
Guards is inviting our Members to attend this, the first official High Goal Tournament of the season, for the fast-paced Semi-Finals (Wednesday, June 14) and Finals (Sunday, June 18). Both days will be thrilling.
The Cartier Queen’s Cup is polo at its best. It is always a thrilling sporting occasion—the Semi-Finals offer a fabulous day of the greatest sporting challenges; the Finals offer a sensational climax, as well as one of the social highlights of the year. Players and aficionados travel across the world to be there, and we shall enjoy a full day of sport, including grandstand seats and wining and dining in Guards Clubhouse, tasting the new menus created by Lush by Tom Kerridge, the Michelin Star chef behind the new culinary delights at Guards.
Of all the world’s polo clubs, none is quite so prestigious and highly regarded as Guards, nor, it seems, quite so spacious and beautifully tended—this is, after all, ‘home club’ to the Royal Family. HM The Queen gifted her cup to Guards in 1960 for this highlight tournament, named in Her Majesty’s honour and contested annually by the world’s best high-goal players and ponies. All of this means that this year’s Semis and Finals will again be a feast of sport and horsemanship—and a feast in its real sense. The chefs at Guards this season are from the celebrated Lush by Tom Kerridge, founder of the celebrated two Michelin-starred The Hand & Flowers in Marlow, have created culinary masterpieces for lunch on both days, preceded by a Laurent-Perrier Champagne Reception.
You are invited to be there on the two best days of the tournament, with reserved grandstand seats for both days. The Semi-Finals offer a day of breathtaking, action-packed sport, watched by all who know and love polo, including the top international players and patrons. This is a day on which the cognoscenti choose to be there: less crowded than the Final, the atmosphere is elegant and relaxed, filled with exhilarating sporting pace and achievement as the best teams do battle for a place in the Final.
You are invited to join us on arrival in the beautifully appointed Guards Clubhouse Enclosure for the Champagne Laurent-Perrier Reception, followed by a sumptuous Lush by Tom Kerridge three-course lunch served with wine chosen by the sommelier to complement the menu. Lunch is perfectly timed around the two fantastic games—the Hubert Perrodo Trophy and the Kerry Packer Trophy—so Clubhouse diners will not miss a moment of the action.
Sunday’s Finals day also includes a Champagne Laurent-Perrier Reception, as well as the delicious Lush by Tom Kerridge Lunch, served with wine, and followed in this case by a scrumptious Afternoon Tea.
BOOK YOUR PLACES NOW AT MEMBERS-ONLY RATES
As a CountryClubuk Member you enjoy preferential rates on whichever day you choose. Both days will be popular, numbers of guests are limited, and places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis—so please don’t delay! Read on for full details and to request your reservations before the tickets run out!
Cartier Queen’s Cup Semi-Finals, Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Enjoy the full day at Guards Polo Club, starting with polo at 12 noon, followed by Champagne Laurent-Perrier Reception at 1.30pm and a delicious three-course lunch by Lush by Tom Kerridge: it is too early to know the exact menu, but a sample includes delicacies from The Hand and Flowers. Lunch will be served with the sommelier’s wine selection (half bottle per guest), followed by tea, coffee and hand crafted chocolates. You will have Guards’ Members Grandstand seats to watch the second game, returning to relax and enjoy further refreshments as required—Champagne and Pimm’s are of course part of the polo scene, and Members may buy their choice of liquid refreshments, as well as afternoon tea, if they wish, and stay on for sundowners on the terrace. The advantageous rate for Members is £190 instead of the non-Member rate of £275. Click here now to book Cartier Queen’s Cup Semi-Finals 2023.
Cartier Queen’s Cup Finals, Sunday, June 18, 2023
Enjoy the full Guards Polo Club wining and dining, starting with a Champagne Laurent-Perrier Reception to welcome you. A sumptuous three-course lunch by Lush by Tom Kerridge will be served with a half bottle of wine per guest. Later you will be treated to Afternoon Tea. You will have Grandstand seats allocated to watch the polo, and all-day access to Guards Clubhouse and garden. You are invited to stay on for the evening party on Guards Clubhouse Terrace. The price for our Members is £320 per Member, including VAT, instead of the non-Member price of £480. To request reservations, please call Member Services on 020 7399 2960.
All arrangements have been made to make the day smooth and enjoyable. You can arrive at the Blacknest Gate main entrance to Guards Polo Club at any time from 12 noon to enjoy the atmosphere at leisure. You will have Guards Polo Club day badges and designated car park places. The dress code is smart casual.
To extend the pleasure of the event by staying a night or two in luxury in London or at nearby country-house hotels at exclusive Club rates, please call the Member Services team on 020 7399 2960 or click here to request a London hotel or click here to request a country hotel.