All the Best - Phil Tufnell

Ex-England cricketer Phil Tufnell tells us about his favourite venues and events

• BEST Bash
  My wedding party was awesome. Although we got married in private on a beach in Mauritius, we held a party for friends and family at Christmastime, which was great fun. You can never go too far wrong with ice sculptures!
• BEST Buzz
  The royal James Bond premiere was a well-covered event that I was very excited about being at. I didn’t get to meet the Queen there, but I did that when playing for England anyway.
• BEST Mates
  To be honest I don’t have too many ‘famous’ friends, but I have had some good times with Chris Evans, Neil Ruddock and a fun day at the races with Vinnie Jones.
  
• BEST Buy
  Top of my wish list in terms of hospitality tickets would be the Monaco Grand Prix with a yacht in the harbour – the full works.
• BEST Beds
  My favourite UK hotels are the Lanesborough in London and The Grove in Hertfordshire. Elsewhere in the world, I like anywhere that overlooks a beach.
• BEST Venue
  Having played for Middlesex all my career, I’d have to say Lord’s. I’ve done Q&A sessions at corporate events and benefits dinners in several of the many function rooms, but you can’t beat the historic Long Room. It’s the ultimate venue for anyone who loves cricket and a drink!
• BEST Bites
  My finest ever dining experience involved tucking into seafood at The Cliff restaurant on Barbados, accompanied by a glass of my favourite tipple – chilled Cloudy Bay.
• BEST Beat
  A good hip-hop tune will get me on the dance floor every time.
• BEST Bag
  To be honest, I’m often disappointed with goodie bags at events. People need to be more original.
• BEST Foot Forward
  Over the next few months, I’ll be busy covering the Cricket World Cup for BBC Radio 5 Live. I also have three TV projects due to be filmed this summer and there may even be the chance of a film about my life – I wouldn’t be acting in that, though!
• BEST Bet
  My prediction for England in the Cricket Word Cup would be a sneaky – and unexpected – fourth place.
• BEST of the Best
  If I had the chance to organise the ultimate event, I’d hold a beach party somewhere in the Caribbean. I’d have steel bands playing, loads of rum punch to start with and then freshly caught seafood, washed down with crates of Cloudy Bay. All my mates and family would be there, it would all be very informal – beachwear, Hawaiian shirts, bare feet – and we might even have an All Star cricket match.

Since being named MCC Young Cricketer of the Year in 1984 and joining the England squad in 1990, Phil Tufnell has been one of the sport’s best-loved personalities. He retired from cricket in 2003 and went on to win Series 2 of the popular ITV show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here. Now a respected presenter and entertainer, his mischievous style always goes down a storm during after-dinner Q&A sessions.

For more information on Phil and other celebrity speakers, contact DBA Speakers, tel: 01932 228544, squaremeal.co.uk/dba

This article first appeared in Square Meal Venues & Events magazine, Spring 2007.