THE BIG FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 N A recent film version of the children’s story, Peter Pan, the father of the children,George Darling, is ordered by his wife to win advancement in business by making contact with people who might be useful to him. Mrs Darling says: “George, the daughter of a clerk cannot hope to marry as well as that of a manager. “You must attend more parties, make small talk with your superiors at the bank. “Wit is very fashionable at the moment. “Mr Darling had been practising small talk all afternoon. ‘I say, it's nice weather we're having’. “And now his opportunity had arrived. “Sir Edward Quiller Couch, the president of the bank, was a man who enjoyed small talk almost as much as a good balance sheet.” Mrs Darling is, of course, right. Attending corporate hospitality events like parties is essential in many lines of business. The region is, of course, rich in opportunities to attend such events. Sports and the arts often provide an attractive backdrop in which to engage in the allimportant small talk. That’s all the more true at this time of year, as the weather begins to warm up. The Grand National is only a couple of weeks away and Chester’s racing season kicks in at the start of May. In addition, Lancashire Cricket Club’s new hospitality facilities at its revamped Old Trafford home will be open for business this summer. There is also the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament at Calderstones Park. For those of a more artistic disposition, Tate Liverpool will be staging a fabulous sounding retrospective of Turner and Monet this summer. Nor is it just the summer months that provide prime hospitality opportunities. Topflight football at Everton and Liverpool, and Rugby League at places like St Helens, Warrington and Widnes, and much else besides, mean there is an all-yearround calendar of events. Events can range from the lavish to the relatively cheap and cheerful. Guests could be invited to spend a weekend on a yacht in Monaco watching the Grand Prix, to paint balling in a muddy field just outside Warrington. One local entrepreneur, Formby-based Lee McPartland, the managing director of Opus Events, provides a range of the more lavish type of corporate hospitality. Opus events range from the Monaco weekend, to up-market accommodation at Glastonbury Festival, to lavish parties at the Open Golf. His latest venture is an event to be known as “the cut party” to take place at this summer’s British Open, at Lytham St Anne, Lancashire. Mr McPartland said: “It will bring a bit of glamour to golf and give all the people from all over the world a big event on the Friday evening. “There will be 700 people fundraising for charity while keeping their clients entertained. “Every 20 minutes, there will be
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On the fast track . . . the Monaco Grand Prix offers a chance for top-class corporate hospitality
a different form of entertainment from music and dance troupes.” The plan is to start the evening with a five-course dinner to be held in a marquee on the Open course. It will then adjourn at midnight to Lytham’s YMCA, where the fun will continue into the small hours. Despite the fact this is a new event being launched during slow economic conditions, there seems to be no shortage of interest from customers. Mr McPartland said: “There has been massive interest already. “We are not going to have a problem selling it out.” But the opportunity to engage in small talk into the small hours
doesn’t come at a small price. A table of ten starts at £3,500 and the cost rises to £5,000 for VIP tables closer to the stage. Guests will be fed a five-course dinner. Another chance for opulent hospitality comes with the Monaco Grand Prix. Known as the Ice Lounge, this event takes place on a beach during the Saturday evening of the race weekend. Over 700 guests will attend with prices starting at 600 euros. They can rise to 1,500 euros. If that’s not enough, you can spend the whole weekend aboard a superyacht moored at Monaco that offers views of the Formula 1 racing.
“We have the best positioned yachts in Monaco,” he says. Guests can watch the qualifying day on the Saturday and the Grand Prix race itself on the Sunday. Opus will entertain up to 150 guests on two yachts. While the food and drink can flow all day, it is very expensive. Prices for the two race days, plus the Friday, are 2,850 euros per person. If Formula 1 isn’t your thing, what about music? Opus uses a field at Winding Lake Farm, located about 100 metres from the main gate to the festival. Mr McPartland says: “It’s a business partner’s home. There is
24-hour food and chauffeured cars in and out of the festival site.” To use a caravan package costs £2,000 for two people. The package comes with back stage passes. A hospitality package for six in a motor home costs £5,000. Helicopter transport from Liverpool can be arranged for £10,000. For those who want something closer to home, Opus hires out the use of a corporate box at Anfield for up to £4,000 a game. Alternatively, you could hire one for the full season at a cost of about £70,000. The fact is corporate hospitality remains expensive and budgets will have come under pressure in