The history of Twickenham Stadium and how corporate hospitality has changed throughout the years

In 1907, a market garden used to grow cabbages was converted into a rugby pitch by the RFU (Rugby Football Union) and still stands on the same land today as one of the largest stadiums in the UK.

Twickenham holds a special place in many people's hearts. With its rich history and dedication to hosting countless memorable matches, it is no surprise the stadium has stood the test of time and been such a success within the rugby industry.

Over the years, the stadium has seen many changes and developments. The first hospitality packages and boxes were available to guests in 1981. And of the existing stands, the North opened in 1991, the East in 1994, the West in 1995 and the South (fully) in 2008. The West Stand was then later refurbished and reopened in 2015 in time for the Rugby World Cup. By this point, the capacity had increased to 82,000 and the corporate hospitality on offer was second to none.

In autumn 2018, the East Stand was redeveloped and reopened, providing a further six levels of premium hospitality space. This was a game changer for Twickenham Stadium's hospitality, as several suites that opened moved away from the traditional round tables of 10 and began offering restaurant style hospitality. A more informal setting named the British Airways Rose Garden was also created, a rooftop garden with live music and street style food.

Today, the stadium is the home of world-class hospitality, providing several different areas to deliver truly unforgettable experiences for guests.

Corporate hospitality 'suite to seat

Within the East Stand, we offer a 'suite to seat' experience, meaning the seats within the stadium bowl are just a short distance from the hospitality suite. This allows guests more time to enjoy the hospitality on offer and take advantage of being able to head back to the hospitality suite for half time refreshments.

Corporate hospitality at Twickenham Stadium is the perfect way to socialise and network for businesses, helping to network, build and maintain valuable relationships with stakeholders. The attention to detail of all elements from the arrival drinks, all-inclusive bars, delicious food and the chance to socialise with players past and present is quite simply a day your clients and colleagues will never forget. Our blog post covering the benefits of corporate hospitality for your business explores at all the ways our world-class hospitality can strengthen your brand and reputation.

As well as the seats within the stadium bowl, all of our hospitality suites have plasma screens showing the match, allowing guests to move between their selected suite and seat without missing crucial points in the game.

If you're considering a hospitality package for your business, we've put together a helpful guide on how to plan corporate hospitality for your clients. This covers everything you need to know to make sure your clients feel valued and your hospitality efforts are rewarded.

Tickets and what's on in 2020

Unfortunately, due to the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the matches due to be held at Twickenham Stadium have been postponed or cancelled. These events include:

18th April 2020 - The Clash

Read more here.

2nd May 2020 - Army v Navy - The Babcock Trophy

Read more here.

23rd - 24th May 2020 - HSBC London Sevens

Read more here.

20th June 2020 - Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final 2020

Read more here.

21st June 2020 - Quilter Cup - England v Barbarians

Read more here.

Looking ahead, we have some exciting upcoming events with incredible corporate hospitality packages available. Please note, schedules may change depending on the situation. These include:

7th November 2020 - England v New Zealand - Quilter Internationals 2020

An iconic occasion in which we welcome the All Blacks to Twickenham to kick off the 2020 Quilter Internationals. General admission tickets will go on sale later in the year for this match, however, you can secure your corporate hospitality package now. For this event, all of our hospitality suites will be offering unique packages including outstanding food and drink. From The Lock restaurant and British Airways Rose Garden in the East Stand, to the Rugby House in the South Stand and Executive Boxes around the stadium, there is a hospitality package to suit everyone.

14th November 2020 - England v Argentina - Quilter Internationals 2020

Argentina will be visiting Twickenham to play England's second game of the series in the Quilter Internationals 2020. General admission tickets will go on sale later in the year for this match, however, you can secure your corporate hospitality package today. Each hospitality suite will be available for this game, so whether you want to enjoy a pitch view meal in The Lock restaurant, or street style food in the British Airways Rose Garden, we have got you covered.

21st November 2020 - England v Tonga - Quilter Internationals 2020

Another exciting match in the Quilter Internationals 2020. England's last three games against Tonga have seen us undefeated, so only time will tell if England can keep up the winning streak. General admission tickets will go on sale later in the year for this match, however, you can secure your corporate hospitality package now. A number of our hospitality suites will be open for this match, including The Gate, British Airways Rose Garden, Rugby House and Executive Boxes.

28th November 2020 - England v Australia - Quilter Internationals 2020

Games between England and Australia always make for an exciting atmosphere here at Twickenham. General admission tickets will go on sale later in the year, however, you can secure your corporate hospitality package today. All of our hospitality suites in the East, South and North Stands will be open including The Gate, The Lock restaurant, the Players' Lounge and our Executive Boxes. This is a game you won't want to miss!

To find out more about the exciting events being held at Twickenham Stadium this year, click here.

Events and corporate dining

Twickenham Stadium host an exciting variety of sporting and music events throughout the year, alongside corporate dining and hospitality in London that is truly second to none. We previously covered the tickets available throughout 2020 for events at Twickenham Stadium, but to find out more about what's on next year, click here.

As well as sporting events on the pitch, we also host esport events and have a dedicated in-house esports lead and 34 event spaces. This rapid growing industry is exciting, and here at Twickenham we have onsite technical support, IPTV streaming stadium wide and a failsafe network backup with our own IP address. We also have bespoke catering options for these events with many onsite services available.

When it comes to corporate dining at Twickenham, we use only the finest ingredients and source locally where possible. As you can see from the graphic, we are proud of the food we source from across England. During the Guinness Six Nations, our 540 chefs work tirelessly to serve approximately 140,000 dishes using meat, dairy and vegetables from across the country.

To find out more about the food and drink on offer at Twickenham Stadium, click here.

Twickenham facilities and the differences between them

Our corporate dining facilities are spread across the East, South and North Stands where our hospitality suites are located. These include:

East Stand

The Gate

The Gate is an exceptional chop house serving premium cuts of meat and mouth-watering steaks. Served alongside real ales and fine wines chosen by our in-house sommelier, The Gate is the perfect setting for corporate dining, offering tables of 2, 6, 8 and 10.

The Lock

With both pitch view and main restaurant tables available, The Lock serves a classic English inspired menu that has been designed in collaboration with Tom Kerridge, who can be spotted mingling with guests before some games throughout the year. This beautiful restaurant offers tables for 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10, and also serves fine wines, real ales and premium spirits.

The East Wing

In the style of a sophisticated members club, the East Wing has dedicated lifts that take you to the restaurant with stunning dual views over the pitch and West London. The bar and lounge area in the East Wing serve delicious canapés and cocktails, whilst the tables for 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 provide a luxury setting for superior and indulgent food.

British Airways Rose Garden

The British Airways Rose Garden is an informal yet lively rooftop space to experience live music and eat delicious street food. Think stone baked pizzas and delicious food from the rotisserie, as well as grazing stations and an all-inclusive bar with real-ales and premium wines. South Stand

South Stand

Rugby House

Rugby house provides the choice of modern hospitality suites and tables of 10 for a truly authentic rugby experience. Serving up a superb plated menu, Rugby House also has an all-inclusive bar with Guinness and premium lagers and wines. This traditional rugby hospitality space is popular with our passionate rugby fans.

Players' Lounge

The Players' Lounge is perfect for truly passionate rugby fans as you can meet some of England's elite players and listen to a post-match Q&A with current players. Providing a Bollinger Champagne reception, this exciting space serves a delicious four course plated menu and has an all-inclusive bar with Guinness, premium lager and fine wines.

North Stand

Executive Boxes

Our Executive Boxes are ideal for private corporate dining with incredible views across the pitch. Having your own exclusive space is perfect for building relationships with clients and making connections. Catering for 10 - 20 guests, our executive box packages include a champagne reception, complimentary bar and a luxury four-course meal served in your private box.

Testimonials and Revenue

In 2018/19, the RFU (Rugby Football Union) invested £100.5m into clubs and over 100,000 volunteers supported the game. This investment helped to operate the English game at all levels and helped the sport to flourish across the country and promote the positive values of the game. To view the full annual report from the RFU, click here.

Profits generated by the RFU through hospitality, merchandise and ticket sales are invested back into rugby, so fans and customers can support the game they love both in spirit and financially through their purchases. To ensure customers can easily identify official England Rugby products and services, the RFU launched 'Good For Rugby', which is a mark that enables fans to know exactly who they're purchasing from.

This consumer protection strategy was put in place to protect fans from purchasing counterfeit merchandise and unofficial tickets. To find out more about the 'Good For Rugby' brand, take a look at our article here.

Testimonials

We're extremely proud of the hospitality services at Twickenham Stadium and continue to receive such brilliant reviews from our customers. The hard work is worth it when guests are having memorable and positive experiences.

"Just wanted to say a big thank you to you & your team for such fantastic hospitality on Sunday - from start to finish the party were well pampered & looked after by the very attentive team - first class food, drink & customer service throughout."

"The best VIP hospitality service, dedicated amazing supportive and co-operative management, team, honoured guests, friends, chefs with absolutely delicious, well balanced wide range of food and drinks, this place has got the highest standards and magnificent atmosphere! This is my favourite, one of the best places ever, six stars

To view more reviews and testimonials about Twickenham Stadium and our hospitality services, or if you would like to leave one yourself, please feel free to explore our Google and Tripadvisor reviews.

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