To Residents and Businesses in the Hurlingham Park area

CHESTERTONS POLO IN THE PARK WILL BE RETURNING TO HURLINGHAM PARK ON FRIDAY 6TH, SATURDAY 7TH AND SUNDAY 8TH JUNE 2024

In 2008 City Events (formally known as World Polo Ltd) signed an exclusive deal with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to stage an annual event – ‘Polo in the Park’ at Hurlingham Park, and to make improvements to the park and grounds at Hurlingham Park for the benefit of all the community and to bring polo back to its original British home.

The event has been successfully run at the venue since 2009. In 2014 the event was purchased from the previous owners and is now being run by Sportgate International Ltd. The new owners have retained the previous management team to continue to deliver the event safely, successfully and to the benefit of the park and the area as a whole.

Following the success of previous years, the 3-day polo event will again be returning to Hurlingham Park in June 2025.

A summary of benefits include:

• The Chestertons Polo in the Park event will be produced, delivered and paid for by the organisers, Sportgate International Ltd.
• Since 2009, the Chestertons Polo in the Park event has invested over 1 million pounds on significant improvements to Hurlingham Park, including opening up and improving the quality of the sports pitches.
• Chestertons Polo in the Park and its organisers will continue to invest in Hurlingham Park for the benefit of the residents and park users year-round.
• In 2011 the organisers undertook to build, at their own expense, a borehole to ensure the greenest possible solution to irrigation. As a result, Hurlingham Park is one of few London Parks that benefit from irrigation throughout the summer, including periods of drought and during hosepipe bans. Please note: the water used for this is grey water from the strata water table – NOT reservoir stock mains water – therefore hosepipe bans do not affect the use of this water. The borehole use is governed by strict Environmental Agency guidelines, and we work closely with them on this matter.
• An enhanced maintenance and reinstatement ground-works programme will again take place pre and post-event, which includes reducing ground compaction as well as extensive seeding and fertilising – all to improve the general health of the grass cover.
• 2000 FREE general admission tickets have been allocated for Hammersmith & Fulham residents via a resident ballot.
• The event provides the opportunity for residents to watch a renowned, live, world-class spectacular sporting event in their local park – 2 x winner of ‘London Sporting Attraction of the Year’ – London Lifestyle Awards and winner of ‘Visit England Excellence Award’.
• Over 50 local businesses are benefiting from working directly with Chestertons Polo in the Park, and many more local businesses benefit from the presence of up to 28,000 visitors to the area over the 3 event days.
• Since 2015 Sportgate International has fundraised over £100,000 for local children’s charity SEAPIA and pledge to continue their support of this wonderful local charity.
• Sportgate International proactively engage with local residents groups to address issues, and concerns and to ensure that the event collaborates with the local community wherever possible. This includes donating to a residents fund for work in the park and fundraising additional money for that fund.

THE HISTORY OF POLO AT HURLINGHAM

Polo was first played at Hurlingham Park in 1874 and became the undisputed home of polo.  It was used to host the 1908 Olympic Polo Final (when England won the Gold Medal), and the prestigious ‘Westchester Cup’ between England and USA from 1910 – 1939. With the outbreak of the Second World War, the polo grounds – that once attracted up to 10,000 spectators, were converted into allotments and the last major polo event took place at Hurlingham in 1939. However, the name ‘Hurlingham’ lived on in the sport, lending its name to the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA). After all this time, in 80% of the polo playing world it is the Hurlingham Polo Association rules that the sport is governed by.

In 2015, for the first time since 1939, the Official England Polo Team returned to play at Hurlingham Park to in a full international match in association with the HPA. England will once again return to play at their spiritual home this year.

CHESTERTONS POLO IN THE PARK 2025 – EVENT PROGRAMME

The Chestertons Polo in the Park event at Hurlingham Park brings together a dazzling combination of international polo and family entertainment to form an unforgettable day out. Three days of matches will take place on Friday 6th, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th June 2025.

Please note match timings and entertainment programme may be subject to change

Upon receiving a ticket, local residents will be allowed re-admittance throughout the day if required.

EVENT OFFERING (each day)

• 3 Games of Polo ( x 4 on Friday )
• The Fulham Food Festival
• Luxury Shopping Village
• Champagne Lanson Garden
• Mahiki Bar
• Fever-Tree Cocktail Garden
• Pimms Bus and Garden
• On-pitch kids entertainment, including a children’s sports day (Sunday Only)
• Face Painting and additional children’s entertainers (Sunday Only)

TIMETABLE OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CONFIRMED

CHESTERTONS POLO IN THE PARK 2025 – TICKETS

ARE TICKETS AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS?

LBHF Council has secured 2000 x FREE general admission tickets for Hammersmith & Fulham residents. Tickets will be allocated through a ballot process. Residents are encouraged to apply for the free event tickets in the ballot. Please visit www.lbhf.gov.uk/polo for ballot application information.

WHERE CAN I BUY TICKETS?

Aside from entering into the LBHF Ballot, if you are interested in purchasing tickets to the event, general admission and grandstand tickets are available to purchase on our website.