Known around the world as the Sport of Princes, polo never fails to attract the great and good, and in 2013 the Duke of Essex Grand Prix Polo is set to do just that. This annual event has a long and successful heritage within the county, but this year, the Duke of Essex Grand Prix Polo takes on a completely new look, becoming bigger, bolder and better.
For starters, ownership of the event itself has changed. New owners, The Kingg Ltd and Grand Prix Events, have recently acquired the Duke of Essex Polo and wasted no time in looking at how they could improve this much-loved event. The new team brings with it a wealth of experience in hospitality from the world of motor racing and they have set themselves the goal of making the Duke of Essex Grand Prix Polo the finest polo event in the UK.
Previously held at Gaynes Park in Epping, this year the Duke of Essex Grand Prix Polo will be staged at a purpose-built polo arena within the Hylands Park Estate in Chelmsford, making the event more accessible to the people of Essex and providing a beautiful and historic setting that is famous for being home to the V Festival.
In 2013, the Duke of Essex Grand Prix Polo will also be staged over two days, with the weekend of Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14 set to offer the best VIP and family outing in Essex.
World class sport FollWhile the modern day spectacle of polo is as much about the social occasion as it is about the sport itself, the Duke of Essex Grand Prix Polo delivers a credible event that will attract some of the world’s greatest players. With its new home in Hylands Park, the Duke of Essex Grand Prix Polo can create a world class arena, suitable for the world class level of sport that will be on display. And, of course, the backdrop is just stunning with the iconic building of Hylands House providing the centerpiece of the Hyland’s Park Estate which covers 574 acres of Essex countryside. Like many stately homes across the country, the main house stood empty for a number of years and slowly slipped in to a state of disrepair, but now the Grade II listed villa has been restored to its former glory thanks to investment from Essex County Council.
Now in its eighth year, the Duke of Essex Grand Prix Polo has already become firmly established as part of the Essex social calendar and the move to Hylands Park is expected to attract more than 10,000 VIPs and members of the public.
Something for everyone
For 2013, the main sporting arena will be surrounded by a wealth of entertainment including various VIP marquees, headline music acts, family fun activities and, of course, the sort of food and drink that would befit the most palatial of occasions.
Once the polo’s finished for the day and the ponies are nicely tucked up on the hay, the party really begins. The VIP enclosures will be transformed in to one-off night spots with top club DJs and live music performances from top mainstream acts as well as legends from yesteryear, creating the perfect way to round off a top-class sporting event and social extravaganza.
VIP packages are split into three types, Silver, Gold and Black. Each of these tickets will give the holder entrance to the exclusive Paddock Club Enclosure from where the polo can be viewed from private, decked areas during the day and from where the international music acts will perform in the evening. VIP ticket holders will have private buggy transportation to and from the main house, valet parking, access to the sun deck, a private washroom and a complimentary barbecue that will run throughout the evening.
For those wishing to go along for just the evening entertainment, there is a special dusk ticket, which offers access from 5pm onwards and is strictly for over 21s only. The dusk ticket will include access to the Paddock Club Enclosure and access to the outside stage to see the live bands and international artists with DJs starting at 9pm and going through to the early hours.
While polo is well known as being a pastime of the elite, the Duke of Essex Grand Prix Polo is certainly not an elitist event. In addition to the VIP packages offering an exclusive day out, there are very reasonable family packages to give people the chance to make the most of a spectacular weekend of family entertainment.
Families will have access to the Grand Prix Polo Village which will feature a show jumping arena, a Shetland pony ‘dinky derby’, performances by the Essex Dog Show Display Team, a Formula 1 simulator, a shopping village and access to the fairground. A Gourmet Food Village will also be partnered with a Champagne Bar and The Grand Arena Bar, so no one need go hungry or thirsty.
Adult tickets for the Grand Prix Polo Village are priced at £20, with children aged 12 plus paying £15. Children under 12 access for free.
