Our Birmingham Gold Cup Lunch will once again be taking place in the Banqueting Suite, at one of the country’s most famous and iconic cricket grounds, Edgbaston.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the most important steeplechase in the world, with the names of some of racing’s greatest equine superstars etched on the coveted trophy including Arkle, Desert Orchid and Best Mate, with last year’s race being superbly won by the favourite Galopin des Champs, ridden by Paul Townend, and trained by the irrepressible Willie Mullin!
On what is sure to be another thrilling day, we are delighted to welcome as our very special guest one of English football’s greatest ever wingers, England and Liverpool superstar, John Barnes. Our event will also feature a comedy set from TV comedian Jake Lambert, fresh from touring with Michael McIntyre. With live music from our Irish band, a superb three course lunch, the full Cheltenham card on our giant screen, our in-house bookmaker, and racing tipster service, this is an event not to be missed.
John Barnes
One of the most naturally gifted wingers in the history of English football, John’s early career was spent at Watford, where he was under the watchful eye of managerial great Graham Taylor. He went on to become a legend at Vicarage Road, playing almost 300 games in all competitions, scoring 85 goals and becoming a regular England international. It was inevitable that a giant would come calling, and with Liverpool the dominant side in British football, it was no surprise when Kenny Dalglish made Barnes his marquee signing. Playing alongside some of the greatest players to don the shirt, John quickly became an integral part of the side; he was a key player in the side which won the 1987/88 title, playing 38 times and scoring 15 goals, with John winning both the Footballer of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year Awards. John went on to win the League title again in 1989/90, with other trophies including the FA Cup in the tragic Hillsborough year of 1989, and again in 1991. In total, he appeared 403 times for Liverpool in all competitions, scoring 106 goals. John also represented England for over a decade (79 caps/11 goals), playing in the 1986 and 1990 World Cup Finals, and the 1988 European Championships, missing out in 1992 due to injury. Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005, John was also named in the PFA Team of the Century (1977-1996) in 2007, and can now be found as a commentator and pundit on the likes of ESPN and SuperSport.
Jake Lambert
By his own admission, Jake Lambert fell into a career as a stand up by accident! After gaining a following on Twitter under the pseudonym @LittleLostLad he decided to put down his iPhone and pick up a microphone. It has proven to be a great choice with him making it to the final of the Amused Moose Final 2016, semi-finals of the BBC New Comedy Award 2015, Magners New Comedian of the Year 2015, English Comedian of the Year 2015 and the Leicester Mercury New Act of the Year 2015. Jake has gone on to write for Mock The Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Now Show, News Quiz, Virtually Famous, Bake Off: The Professionals, and Bake Off: An Extra Slice. In 2018 he made his TV debut performing on Comedy Central’s Live From The Comedy Store, followed by a sell-out run of his debut solo show Little Lost Lad at the Edinburgh comedy festival. Jake can now be seen performing across the UK, having supported some of comedy’s household names such as Michael McIntyre, Alan Carr and Jack Dee, as well as headlining himself in sell-out tours.
David Fulton
David enjoyed a 15 year career with Kent, playing in 200 First Class matches with an average in the high 30s, and over 100 one day games. His best season came in 2001, when he scored an incredible 1892 First Class runs at an average of just under 76, being crowned PCA Player of the Year. Since retiring from the game in 2006, David has forged a career as a cricket journalist and event host, appearing regularly on Sky Sports’ cricket coverage. In 1993 he took the catch to dismiss Viv Richards in his final First Class innings! A sports fan, David has previously hosted our Lord’s Long Room Lunch and Birmingham Gold Cup Lunch on numerous occasions as well as last year’s World Cup screening at Edgbaston.
Edgbaston Stadium
We are delighted to be holding our event in the Banqueting Suite at Edgbaston Stadium, which is a fantastic large facility, perfectly suited to our event. This is the stadium’s premium pitch-facing facility, enjoying magnificent views over the middle, and plenty of natural light. Our guests will enjoy quality dining and service for which Edgbaston is rightly renowned, with ample complimentary parking for all attendees.
