After the stunning successes of previous Lord’s Hospitality Events, we are delighted to be again running our Long Room Lunch, in the hallowed environs of the spiritual ‘home of cricket’.
We are thrilled to announce that all-time great and legend of the world game, Brian Lara, will be on our panel this year! It will be fascinating to hear from the man who many people regard as the greatest batsman of the modern era. Brian will be joined by former England opening batsman and record-breaking captain Michael Atherton, plus one of the finest spin bowlers in the history of English Cricket, Graeme Swann. With England taking on the West Indies in the summer Test series, what better way to prepare for another great summer of cricket than hear the thoughts of a panel which includes the man who holds both the highest world Test and first class scores, and is a former Windies captain.
Enjoy the legendary hospitality of the salubrious and exclusive Long Room, including a delicious three course meal and complimentary bar at Lord’s in the company of cricketing royalty. Book your seats promptly please, as this event is certain to sell out in record time!
Brian Lara
Hailed as one of the finest batsmen in the history of the sport, Brian Lara’s journey to cricketing greatness began in his childhood, where he displayed exceptional talent in multiple sports, eventually focusing on cricket. His Test debut against Pakistan in 1990 marked the beginning of an illustrious career spanning 17 years, which would witness him rewrite the record books with some of the greatest innings in history. Lara’s batting prowess was characterized by his elegant stroke play, impeccable timing, and a fearless approach to facing even the most daunting bowling attacks, his ability to dominate any bowling attack made him a nightmare for opposing teams. Throughout his career, Brian set numerous records, including the highest individual score in Test cricket, with an astonishing 400 not out against England in 2004. He also holds the record for the highest First Class score, with an unbeaten 501 for Warwickshire. In 131 Tests he scored almost 12000 runs at an average of 53, with 34 centuries, with a further 10,405 runs in the ODI format at an average over 40. Beyond his individual achievements, Lara’s leadership skills were also evident as he captained the West Indies cricket team. Despite facing challenges during his captaincy, including team restructuring and internal disputes, Lara remained a symbol of resilience and determination. Post-retirement, he remains involved in the sport through commentary, coaching, and philanthropic endeavours, leaving an indelible mark on the cricketing world as a true legend of the game. Twice named Wisden Leading Cricketer of the World, we are thrilled to welcome this icon of the global game to our event!
Mike Atherton
Gutsy and stubborn, single-minded and sledger-proof, Mike Atherton was an opener in the classic English tradition, making batting look like trench warfare. Defence was his forte, but when his bad back wasn’t playing up, he hooked freely and timed the ball sweetly through point. In opponents’ eyes, he was England’s most wanted man for the seven years until his retirement at the end of the 2001 Ashes. Thrust into the captaincy at the age of 25, he led the side in a record 54 Test matches, before resigning in 1998, slipping comfortably into the role of elder statesman of the side. Australia seldom saw the best of him, with his nemesis Glenn McGrath getting him out a world record 19 times, but his relish for a personal duel with the likes of Alan Donald and Shaun Pollock did much to bring about series victories over both South Africa (1998), and West Indies (2000). Mike retired in 2001 with a total of 7728 Test runs in 115 Tests, with a further 1791 runs in 54 ODIs, before moving into the media, establishing a reputation as one of the better player-broadcasters as well as a no-nonsense journalist.
Graeme Swann
England’s record-breaking spin bowler, by the time of his retirement Graeme had taken 255 test match wickets at an average a fraction under 30 in 50 Test matches. These fantastic bowling statistics are complimented with 1370 Test runs with the bat, at an average of 22.09 and 5 fifties; Swann often made an impact down the order, becoming a crucial part of an England team during a particularly successful few years. He was also highly successful in the ODI format, taking over 100 wickets at an average of under 28, and again making useful contributions with the bat. One of English cricket’s biggest characters, he had the cricket world in fits of laughter with his 2010/11 Ashes Video tour diaries, and his ‘sprinkler dance’ as England won the Ashes in Australia! Graeme was named one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the year in 2009 and won the T20 World Cup in 2010, England’s first ever ICC competition win. A regular summariser on TV and radio cricket coverage, Swanny also showed some mean moves on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 making it all the way to Week 10!
The Long Room at Lords
Renowned as “the most evocative four walls in the world of cricket”, the Long Room in the Lords Pavilion has been at the epicentre of the game for time immemorial. Artwork from across the centuries adorns every wall, with the haughty gazes of the likes of WG Grace and Sir Jack Hobbs mingling with more modern icons of the game, such as Sir Ian Botham and Shane Warne. The service and catering in the Long Room are of the very highest calibre, as befits such a magnificent venue; you and your guests are sure to be enchanted by the whole experience.
Emily Haig
We are delighted to welcome one of the UK’s best vocalists to sing between courses at our lunch. Emily’s powerhouse soprano vocals, spellbinding and dramatic performance and stunning looks, ensure that she immediately commands the stage and engages with her audience. Emily has been honoured to perform the National Anthem 27 times at Wembley Stadium, 5 times at Silverstone Circuit and Twickenham Stadium, plus amongst others, the Olympic Park, Motorpoint Arena, Copper Box and Ricoh Stadium, all of which were internationally live broadcast to millions worldwide.
