Wednesday July 27 2011

The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead is known for showcasing the best in equestrian action, and now it's set to become a top-class entertainment venue too with a series of concerts and live events planned for 2012.

Holding live music events at sporting grounds and racecourses has proved a hugely successful format in Britain, and Hickstead has teamed up with entertainment producers the Liz Hobbs Group so that they can also offer live events at the West Sussex showground.

Liz Doogan-Hobbs, chief executive officer of the Liz Hobbs Group, said: "Hickstead has an enviable reputation as the home of British showjumping, so we are thrilled that our teams will working together. It's a unique location with fantastic open-air surroundings and we are already developing some innovative and exciting entertainment concepts, which we hope to launch in 2012."

The All England Jumping Course is well known for its international shows and subsequent after-parties, and the new entertainment events will boost Hickstead's reputation as a premier party venue.

Daisy Bunn, Hickstead Director, says: "Hickstead is famous for organising world class equestrian events and we are delighted to work with the Liz Hobbs Group to expand into music and more live events. Both businesses are family-run and share a very similar ethos, and we are very excited about teaming up to deliver the successful events that we are known for but in a new area."

This new live event enterprise is set to boost visitors to the showground, as well as allow the Bunn family to put money back into horse sport. This investment is something that was hugely important to Hickstead founder, the late Douglas Bunn.

"Crucially, by expanding into new areas and hosting more events, we will be able to continue to invest in to the future of equestrianism," Daisy adds.