Polo Day raises over £40,000 for Hospitality Action

Charity Hospitality Action raised over £40,000 on Sunday, September 7 at the charity’s fifth annual Polo Day, which took place at the Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucestershire. Michelin-starred chefs Martin Burge, Sam Moody and Hywel Jones created the lunch for the event in cooperation with Calcot Kitchens.

Hospitality Action helps people in need of all ages, working and retired, from the hospitality industry. Its beneficiaries suffer from illnesses, poverty, domestic abuse or homelessness.

Penny Moore, chief executive of Hospitality Action, said: “Tickets to the Polo Day sold out back in June making it a firm favourite among our supporters and polo fans alike. We are indebted to our event sponsors Tetbury Audi and Moët for supporting the day and ensuring its continued success. Demand for the charity’s assistance is up once again thus the funds raised here today will enable us to help even more of our colleagues in crisis.”

Richard Ball, Executive Chairman of Calcot Hotels, said:  “We are extremely grateful to everyone who has donated towards this special event, without whom today would have been impossible. Not to mention City of Bath College and Gloucestershire College for their front of house support. My thanks to all the chefs for the time and effort they have put into the event and my team at Calcot Kitchens for all their hard work.”

The guests were welcomed to a Moët & Chandon reception on the lawn of the Beaufort Polo Club, while watching a polo demonstration. After lunch the guests enjoyed the final of the Solitaire Salver polo match, which saw Babosas Blancas crowned as champions against Los Chinos in an exciting game.

The food for the event was prepared by big names of the chef industry together with Calcot Kitchens: Michelin two-starred chef Martin Burge of Whatley Manor and the Michelin-starred chefs Sam Moody of The Bath Priory and Hywel Jones of Lucknam Park. Lunch included tartar of Cornish pollack, slow roast Roundway Hill pork and vanilla panna cotta as well as afternoon cream tea prepared by Calcot Kitchens.

The Polo Day was attended by a number of well-known figures from across the industry including William Baxter CBE, Harry Murray MBE of Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa and Peter Hancock of Pride of Britain Hotels.

For more information about Hospitality Action and to learn about future events, visit www.hospitalityaction.org.uk

By Vera Kleinken