Arena Group Saddles Up With The Jockey Club

Arena Group has secured a new three-year contract with The Jockey Club, to supply temporary event infrastructure to a number of the UK’s most esteemed racecourses, October 2016.

Building on a relationship dating back over 26 years with The Jockey Club, Arena Group has been awarded a three year contract to supply Cheltenham, Aintree, Epsom Downs and Newmarket racecourses with temporary structures, interior design , furniture and tableware, spectator seating and scaffolding to the most notable dates in the equestrian calendar.

Ian Sidgwick, Group Purchasing Director, The Jockey Club, said: “Arena Group has worked closely with Jockey Club Racecourses over several years, advising on and delivering temporary environments.  They support us in continuously raising the bar with new ideas to get the best value from our budgets, with flexibility to change their infrastructure to best suit our needs. I’m confident they will continue to help us exceed the hospitality expectations of both our brand sponsors and event guests alike.”

The contract provides additional scope and  comes after a record year including Arena Structures installing the largest triple deck hospitality temporary structure in the world totalling 125m long and spanning 12,400sqm, along the home straight at The Festival – Jump Racing’s equivalent of the Olympics, staged at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Arena Group also proved pivotal in supporting The Jockey Club’s transformation of this year’s Grand National at Aintree Racecourse, with the installation of more than 7,750sqm of temporary structures complete with bespoke interior fit out, and more than 5,000 tiered grandstand seats offering prime visibility for the revered racing. Arena Group will be the exclusive provider at this event.

Grahame Muir, CEO Arena UK & Europe commented: “We are delighted to announce the further extension of our already excellent relationship with Jockey Club racecourses over the next three years. At Arena Group we pride ourselves with delivering temporary infrastructure of the highest standard to the most prestigious sporting venues and events in the UK, and this contract win is testament to the value, forward-thinking innovation and expertise we bring to clients. We look forward to further pushing the boundaries of customer experience with improved facilities, technology and bespoke design.”

 

A Timeless Classic

Well Dressed Tables have recently invested in a timeless classic, Old English EPSS Cutlery by Arthur Price of England, the most desirable cutlery brand in the UK.

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The Old English range of cutlery is from Arthur Price’s premium collection. Traditional skills are used alongside new technology to ensure manufacturing excellence. Each piece is electroplated with pure silver to a high specification giving a beautiful radiance. Each piece is very carefully crafted from Electric Plated Stainless Steel at Arthur Price’s factory in Sheffield. It’s quality and design are second to none.

The Old English Cutlery is a timeless classic that oozes elegance and tradition but will never look out of place. Old English is now in stock and available to hire by clicking here.

The Patron’s Lunch 2016

Well Dressed Tables was proud to be a supplier to The patron’s Lunch providing furniture. The Patron’s Lunch is the climax to a national weekend of celebrations, recognising Her Majesty The Queen’s patronage of over 600 charities and organisations on occasion of her 90th birthday. The Patron’s Lunch took place on Sunday 12th June 2016 and saw The Mall, London, transformed for its largest-ever street party with over 10,000 guests enjoying a hamper style lunch.

 

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View the time lapse here.

 

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BMW PGA Championships 2016

Building on its successful, longstanding relationship with the PGA, Arena Group & Spaceworks Furniture Hire was again entrusted to match the headline sponsors’ prestigious reputation with a high quality finish of the event structures and seating at the Wentworth Club for the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championships, 26-29th May. 

 

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Arena Structures project manager Mark Porter and his team installed 10,000sqm of varied event structures, suited to a range of uses from exhibition and retail outlets to the 2,100sqm hospitality double deck structure linked to the clearview™ grandstand on the 18th green. The crew worked alongside TRO agency to install a 1,125sqm BMW Driver’s Lounge, a luxurious Player’s Reception, and a Moet & Chandon Bar & Brasserie, all enhancing the spectator experience through the creation of state of the art temporary facilities with stunning interior designs. Additional structures around the grounds included a Welcome Pavilion, media centre, BMW village and Player crèches, toilets, merchandise shops and a giant scoreboard.

Arena Seating installed 3,432 tiered seats at four locations around the course, as Dave Withey, Arena UK & Europe sales and marketing director explains:

“Arena Seating’s ex-Olympic clearview™ seating system provided spectator comfort coupled with unrivalled views of the European Tour competition from every angle. The 2,652 capacity grandstand at the rear of the 18th green included 148 upholstered VIP seats, with a bridge connected to the hospitality double decker. Elsewhere around the Wentworth course, we installed 240 clearview™ seats and a viewing platform on the 14th green, 171 seats on the 16th green and a further 369 tiered seats on the 1st Tee.

“We worked closely with the organisers to ensure commentary boxes, player’s tunnels and viewing platforms were also constructed and finished to the highest standards and aligned with BMW’s brand aspirations.”

Spaceworks Furniture Hire provided nearly 5,000 pieces of furniture installed into 80 different locations across the Wentworth site. Spaceworks and Well Dressed Tables managing director Chris Piggott explains: “We work closely with organisers to ensure that our furniture works in harmony with the hospitality interior designs. It is testament to our team and the quality of delivery from Arena Group and Spaceworks that we return year on year to supply such an integral date in the golfing calendar.”

The BMW PGA Championships saw Britain’s Chris Wood scoop his third European Tour title, moving into the Official World Golf ranking’s top 25.

 

Aintree’s Crabbie’s Grand National 2016

Arena Group was pivotal in supporting The Jockey Club’s transformation of the World-famous Aintree Racecourse for the 2016 Crabbie’s Grand National with temporary event seating and structures. David Mullins trained Rule the World won everyone’s hearts and the £1million prize money when The Grand National became the nine year olds first steeplechase victory.Carl Pastor, The Jockey Club’s operations director, states:

“I view Arena as a partner, rather than a contractor: they are pro-active in suggesting ideas and helping us overcome problems, always in tune with our own brand values. The introduction of new features such as the Arena Deck viewing area in front of The Chair Pavilion and the double decker Owners and Trainers hospitality facility this year were great examples of the fantastic advances in the experience we were able to offer our guests.”

Arena Group’s Aintree installation came hot on the heels of a record breaking installation at Cheltenham Festival for The Jockey Club, extending improvements in the facilities at both courses.

Arena Structures installed 7,750 sqm of temporary structures to create diverse event venues with bespoke interior designs and fit out to compliment the permanent venues. The Jockey Club’s double decker Amberleigh House benefitted from an interior make-over with a range of high quality hospitality suites, while a new curved roof double decker increased the Owners and Trainers Pavilion capacity and was a great success, with guests over-looking the parade ring. Other facilities included the stylish Moet & Chandon Champagne pavilion, a welcoming sight to the public as they arrived.

Arena Seating installed the West Tip Grandstand, with 2,750 capacity clearview™ tiered seats under a curved roof, offering great views over the home straight with protection from the weather. The Chair Pavilion, situated to the right of the West Tip Grandstand, offered a further 1,206 clearview™ seats alongside a new Arena Deck hospitality platform. A further 1,512 clearview™ seats were installed to create an Embankment/Steeplechase viewing facility to watch the horses come over the Melling Road, alongside a new temporary access staircase.

Spaceworks and Well Dressed Tables were also entrusted to supply a wide range of furniture and crockery across the racecourses’ hospitality venues.  Products supplied include chairs from the Tolix range, Samsonite black folding chairs and Saturn Cocktail tables.

Cheltenham Festival 2016

The Cheltenham Festival has grown to attract 250,000 visitors to the four day highlight of the jump racing calendar, with £4.1 million prize money contested across 28 races culminating in the Gold Cup. Arena Group supported Cheltenham Racecourse, a Jockey Club Racecourse, with the expansion of facilities to accommodate the increase in hospitality tickets.

 

The 125m long triple decker was the largest ever installed alongside the home-straight, including the 55m Arcus Long Run facility with cantilever balcony. This venue hosted hosting a range of bespoke private suites along with Silks and Chez Rous restaurants, for clients and guests of The Jockey Club, Needham and Needham’s, Keith Prowse, Front Runners. The structure incorporated full kitchen, bathroom and rear access facilities on all levels, along with Tote betting booths, phone charge points and cash machines.

The new two storey Guinness Pavilion combined a public bar with a VIP hospitality area overlooking the famous Guinness village, which incorporated a 756 capacity tiered clearview™ seating grandstand in the upper level to give great views over the finish line. Also facing the course on the ground level was an exclusive VIP hospitality sponsors’ suite for Betway, complete with Arena Deck viewing platform and tiered standings.

 

Spaceworks, Arena Group’s furniture hire specialists, provided a wide range of furniture across 22 areas of the Cheltenham Festival site, including The Jockey Club Chalet, Final Fence Restaurant and the Chez Roux Boxes. The array of furniture supplied from the company’s extensive inventory, included Bravo dining tables, white Olympus chairs and Chesterfield sofas.

 

 

 

Arena Group Takes Centre Stage at The Brit Awards

Arena Group provided extensive temporary structures, tableware and furniture for this year’s star-studded BRIT Awards in association with MasterCard, which took place at London’s O2 on the 24th February.

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The 2016 ceremony marked the 36th edition of The BRIT Awards, one of the music industry’s most prestigious events, and witnessed performances from Adele, Coldplay, James Bay and Jess Glynne. Arena Structures was called upon to supply a variety of temporary structures including the dining structure which is then transformed into the after party area , catering area and production offices. Arena Structures installed two 5m x 15m tents and one 3m x 15m tent to create a horseshoe shaped kitchen and catering area, which was positioned outside of the O2 dome.

Two 10m x 20m tents were also supplied by Arena Structures to create the main production office and the BRITS TV office, which included an Ogle Hog live video editing suite. The VIP and sponsors dining/afterparty area was created using a 40m x 35m TFS, which was constructed inside the O2 dome, to create a venue within a venue.

Arena Group’s Spaceworks and Well Dressed Tables division supplied a total of 2,600 covers of crockery, cutlery, glassware and furniture within the main arena and the VIP marquee.

Dan Bluff Arena Structures project manager, commented: “We work with the O2 on a number of different events, including the ATP World Tour, which means we’re familiar with the space available and the working practices within the venue. This allowed us to successfully construct a number of temporary structures within the venue, including a temporary VIP

party area, which enabled organisers to host pre and post celebrations on-site. We’re delighted to be able to build on our longstanding relationship with The BRITS and to once again be involved with this brilliant event.”

Spaceworks and Well Dressed Tables managing director, Christopher Piggott, commented: “The BRITS is always such a spectacular show to be part of and we’re proud to have once again been involved. We supplied a range of our tableware and furniture to ensure the main arena and VIP marquee were dressed seamlessly to reflect the glamour and the elegance of this event.”

Top Safety Accreditation for Spaceworks and Well Dressed Tables

Spaceworks Furniture Hire and Well Dressed Tables has been awarded accreditation from Safecontractor for its commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety.

Safecontractor is a leading third party accreditation scheme which recognises very high standards in health and safety management amongst UK contractors.

Employing over 60 people, Spaceworks and Well Dressed Tables is principally involved in the major events industry.  Specialising in the hospitality and major events industries, most recent clients have included major players such as The Admirable Crichton, Table Talk & Blue Strawberry, The Recipe, Lawn Tennis Association, IMG, British Racing Drivers Club, Epsom Downs Racecourse, Aintree.

The company’s application for Safecontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business.

Christopher Piggott, managing director said:We’re proud to be recognised as one of the growing number of businesses in our industry that take health and safety very seriously. We take great measures to ensure all of the relevant procedures are adhered to in order to keep our staff safe.”

Safecontractor accreditation will enhance the company’s ability to attract new contracts and its commitment to safety will be viewed positively by its insurers when the company liability policy is up for renewal.

Safecontractor is applicable to most sectors although it is particularly relevant to food manufacture, property, facilities management, retail and leisure sectors, all of which are big users of contracted services.

John Kinge, technical director of Safecontractor said, “Major organisations simply cannot afford to run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies in place.”

“More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that Spaceworks & Well Dressed Tables has done. The firm’s high standard has set an example which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector.

Safecontractor plays a vital role in supporting our clients in meeting their compliance needs, whilst working with their contractors as they progress through the accreditation process.”

Under the Safecontractor scheme, businesses undergo a vetting process which examines health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice. Those companies meeting the high standard are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via a website.

Client-organisations who sign up to the scheme can access the database, enabling them to vet potential contractors before they even set foot on site. These clients agree that, as users of the scheme, they will engage only those who have received accreditation.

Over 210 major, nation-wide businesses, from several key sectors, have signed up to use the scheme when selecting contractors for services such as building, cleaning, maintenance, refurbishment or electrical and mechanical work.

 

 

 

Serving a Winner at the Wimbledon Championships

Spaceworks & Well Dressed Tables continues to build on its long standing relationship with the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) having once again served the highest standard of corporate hospitality and audience facilities to the  annual Wimbledon Championships, 29th June- 12th July 2015.


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This year, Arena Group provided the Championships with its bespoke event infrastructure, including seating, structures and interiors products that were installed across the prestigious club, which welcomes around 38,500 spectators each day.

 

Spaceworks provided furniture to the exclusive chalets and hospitality areas including a brand new range of outdoor rattan garden furniture used for the first time within the hospitality village, whilst Well Dressed Tables provided some more bespoke crockery and glassware for the Skyview Boxes.

 

Arena Structures provided all temporary hospitality chalets within the grounds and the superb Sportsworld facility located on the adjacent golf club. In addition, Arena constructed a number of public structures including:- the Baseline restaurant, Tea Lawn , retail outlets, media complex and fan zones.

 

Arena Seating was on hand to install custom green temporary seats across nine of the outside courts, which included 1,065 clearview™ seats on court 12, 2,392 tiered seats, the Centre Court staircase, commentary boxes and viewing platforms throughout the venue, as well as a temporary grandstand that gave unrivalled views on top of Murray Mound.

 

Christopher Piggott, Managing Director at Spaceworks & Well Dressed Tables, commented: “The Wimbledon Championships is a hugely exciting event to work on as the AELTC are constantly looking to evolve the experience they offer. Within the hospitality area, most chalet holders have their own requirements regarding the look of their venue and how they want it designed for their guests. This means we have to work extremely closely with the individual chalet holders and the AELTC, to ensure we allow for the high standards of both.”