Sports venues for hire

When it’s not flooded with rugby fans, the England national stadium operates as a venue for corporate and private events. Spaces include the 1,200-capacity Rose Suite and the Live Room auditorium that has retractable tiered seating operated at the touch of a button. The South Stand conference centre got a £300k AV upgrade in 2016, and more recently had a refurbishment of its carpets and a reduction of its pillar sizes. The most unusual space for a sporting venue is the Twickenham Cellar, where 14 guests can feast on seven courses and fine wines. Three VIP areas have floor-to-ceiling windows that maximise views of the pitch, while the England Changing Rooms have been completely modernised. Group tours and guest speakers can also be arranged.

Home to Surrey County Cricket Club and a host to international cricket matches, The Kia Oval is justifiably popular for its excellent event facilities, which include a conference centre and roof terrace. It can take large groups for banqueting and offers plenty of smaller meeting rooms – most offer natural light and have views of the pitch. Hospitality packages on match days are another big draw. We like the roof terrace for a pre-game glass of fizz.

Situated in the South Downs, the Amex Stadium is home to Brighton & Hove Albion FC. Its contemporary lounges all have the latest technology, but very different floorplans. The Mayo Wynne Baxter is the biggest, with a striking floor-to-ceiling glass façade and remarkable double-height ‘wave’ ceiling. All the executive boxes are well set up for board meetings, while the various concourses are easily accessed and suit exhibitions.

This mini-golf specialist has courses in three London parks. Next door to Go Ape, its Battersea branch is well set up for exclusive-use events. Food comes from a wood-fired pizza oven, drinks from a well-stocked long bar, and there are hardwood floors for dancing. A large outdoor area is heated and the 18-hole, all-weather course itself raises some eye-catching challenges for all levels of player. Watch out, in particular, for some turbulent water hazards.

Stamford Bridge sports a long lineup of contemporary facilities for hosting groups. Look first to the newly refurbished (late 2017) West Stand, with its myriad modern event spaces and teambuilding options. The all-new 1905 Club, which replaces Marco Grill, is already proving popular for meetings and dinners on non-match days. Elsewhere, we’re fans of Under the Bridge, a state-of-the-art music venue used for award ceremonies and dinners.

The third of Putt in the Park’s three London venues, this mini-golf course in Acton Park closely follows the group’s successful template. Next to 18 carefully designed holes, there’s a standalone clubhouse serving pizzas from a wood-fired oven and well-turned drinks from a long bar. Hardwood floors make for easy dancing and there’s a heated outdoor area to rest up in. Exclusive-hire packages mean groups get the run of the whole place.

The home of West Ham United and UK Athletics, this impressive 66,000-capacity stadium has a host of modern event spaces to offer, covering business gatherings through to parties and away days. We like the ‘premium’ Arnold Hills room: it’s a good spot for informal meetings or smart receptions with its own bar and a balcony looking out over the pitch. If you need more space, the Great Briton can host flexible, multi-function events.

Yellowave is a beach-sports venue available to hire for group activities. It celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2017 and has six volleyball courts that can be hired hourly – making it a good choice for teambuilding. A coach, with a speciality in volleyball, is on hand to help school participants and organise competitive tournaments for groups. Indoors, the venue’s bright, wood-clad Clubhouse is available for meetings and parties, and has floor-to-ceiling windows that show off a view of the sea and the town’s famous pier. In-house catering comes in the form of beach-appropriate barbecues and beer.