Dallas Burston Polo Club (IXL Events Ltd)

What Dallas Burston Polo Club (IXL Events Ltd) does

Dallas Burston Polo Club is a 600-acre equestrian and events estate located at Stoneythorpe Estate in Southam, Warwickshire, operated by IXL Events Limited. Founded in 2013 by Dr Dallas Burston, the venue combines polo and equestrian sports infrastructure with large-scale event hosting. The core physical assets include a 2.4-acre all-weather SuperArena surfaced with Ecotrack (the largest such installation by Martin Collins Enterprises), four named polo grounds (Yellow, Blue, Red, Silver), 200 acres of woodland, and a portfolio of event venues: the IXL Events Centre (3,000-capacity conference and banqueting hall), The Cloud Pavilion (360-degree panoramic wedding and corporate space), The Clubhouse (colonial-style bar and dining), and The Millstone Hare (thatched-roof pub and restaurant, Silver winner at the 2020 West Midlands Tourism Awards Pub of the Year).

The business operates multiple revenue streams: venue hire for weddings (including a strong Asian-wedding vertical via exclusive caterer Sanjay Foods) and corporate events, food and beverage, polo school tuition and pony livery, sponsorship and banner advertising, and playing memberships. Distribution is entirely direct, via the company website, a small in-house sales team, public polo events (free spectator entry), and walk-in restaurant trade. Marketing is concentrated on content (blog, website), social media (Facebook), PR coverage (BBC, Sky News), and partner channels. The company is privately held with no disclosed investors and reports only 7 core employees, supplemented by event-day contractor staffing. An ongoing £122 million multi-year investment programme is funding a new boutique Polo Club Hotel and 100 luxury lodges.

Name

Dallas Burston Polo Club (IXL Events Ltd)

Legal name

IXL Events Limited

Website

https://dbpoloclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dallas Burston Polo Club, operated by IXL Events Limited, is a 600-acre equestrian and events venue in Warwickshire, UK, hosting weddings, corporate events, polo tournaments, and dining across multiple on-site venues including a 3,000-capacity events centre.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Venue and Hospitality

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Equestrian & Rodeo Facilities (MPAKAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Equestrian Teams & Stables (Racing/Show Jumping/Eventing) (MPAKABAG), Golf & Leisure Full-Service Hotels (THAGAAAH)

Keywords

• Events venue hire
• Luxury wedding venue
• Corporate conference hosting
• Equestrian sports facility
• Polo club membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Southam

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Venue Hire: Hire of event spaces including IXL Events Centre (up to 3,000 guests), Clubhouse, Cloud Pavilion, SuperArena, polo grounds for various events including weddings, corporate functions, and sporting events.
2. Food and Beverage: On-site restaurant and bar The Millstone Hare, catering services for events. Sanjay Foods acts as exclusive caterer for Asian weddings.
3. Polo School and Livery: Polo lessons, experience days, half-day and full-day polo packages, and livery services for polo ponies. Flexible livery packages offered year-round.
4. Sponsorship and Advertising: Banner advertising opportunities, event sponsorship, and brand partnerships throughout the 600-acre estate.
5. Playing Membership: Social and playing membership for polo club access and participation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dallas Burston Polo Club operates a 600-acre equestrian and events estate in Warwickshire, renting out multiple venues (IXL Events Centre up to 3,000 guests, Cloud Pavilion, Clubhouse, Millstone Hare pub) for weddings, corporate conferences, and private functions, and providing polo tournaments, polo lessons, polo pony livery, and equestrian arena hire on four polo grounds and an all-weather SuperArena.

Product overview

Dallas Burston Polo Club is a 600-acre equestrian and events estate in Warwickshire operated by IXL Events Ltd. The portfolio consists of multiple distinct venue and service products: the IXL Events Centre (flagship 3,000-capacity conference and events hall), The Cloud Pavilion (360-degree panoramic wedding/corporate pavilion), The Clubhouse (colonial-style dining and bar venue), and The Millstone Hare (thatched-roof pub and restaurant). Equine offerings include the all-weather SuperArena (140m x 70m Ecotrack arena), four named polo pitches, a Polo School with lessons and experience days, and polo pony livery. Supporting services include wedding hosting, corporate event hire, and sponsorship/advertising opportunities. The estate is undergoing a £122 million investment plan including a boutique Polo Hotel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IXL Events Centre: Large-scale conference and events venue with capacity for 3,000 guests, featuring King's Court hall, multiple lounges, and outdoor terraces with views of polo pitches.
• The Millstone Hare
• The Cloud Pavilion
• The Clubhouse
• SuperArena
• Polo Club Hotel

Products and services

• IXL Events Centre The flagship large-scale conference and events venue on the estate, accommodating up to 3,000 guests standing, 750 banquet style, or 800 theatre style. Features the King's Court hall, Horizon Lounge, Champagne Lounge, eight private booths, Nexo speaker system, vehicle access, and panoramic views of the polo pitches. Targeted at corporate conferences, weddings, and large-scale events.
• The Cloud Pavilion A modern pavilion venue with panoramic 360-degree windows overlooking the 600-acre estate. Serves as a blank-canvas space for weddings, corporate meetings, and business luncheons.
• SuperArena An all-weather equestrian arena measuring 140m x 70m (2.4 acres) with the world's largest Ecotrack surface installed by Martin Collins Enterprises. Enables year-round polo and equestrian activities including four-a-side arena polo, dressage, show jumping, and carriage driving. Receives approximately 70,000 visitors annually.
• The Clubhouse A colonial-style clubhouse featuring the Snaffles Bar (standing capacity 70), Silchar Dining Room (seats 100), Lower Terrace (up to 80 standing), and Upper Terrace (up to 150 reception). Includes William Morris decor and views over two premier polo grounds.
• The Millstone Hare On-site thatched-roof pub and restaurant offering bar and lounge seating for 70 downstairs and The Drawing Room function space upstairs for up to 75 guests. Features two terraces overlooking the SuperArena and Yellow Polo Ground. Winner of Silver at the 2020 West Midlands Tourism Awards Pub of the Year category.
• Polo School and Tuition Polo lessons and experience days led by Polo Manager Matias Amaya (5-goal handicap). Offers instruction for riders and non-riders, providing polo ponies for all abilities from instructional chukka level to full game scenarios. Available year-round including the winter arena season.
• Polo Livery Flexible livery packages for polo ponies with 21 airy livery stables in an equestrian American barn. Includes shared storage, locked tack rooms, access to exercise track, SuperArena, and warm-up arena. Available for visiting teams and year-round boarding.
• Wedding Hosting Services Full wedding hosting across estate venues including civil ceremony licence, catering from designated suppliers (Sanjay Foods as exclusive caterer for Asian weddings), and event planning. Accommodates gatherings from 10-12 guests up to 750 in the IXL Events Centre. Award-winning Venue of the Year 2016 for Asian weddings.
• Corporate Event Hire Conference and meeting venue hire across 16 event spaces including boardrooms for 6 delegates up to the IXL King's Court seating 800 theatre style. Includes audio-visual equipment, free parking, and catering options for conferences, exhibitions, gala dinners, team away days, product launches, and corporate hospitality.
• Polo Pitches Four named polo grounds (Yellow, Blue, Red, and Silver) plus Chukka Ground and Stick & Ball Ground enabling year-round polo and equestrian sporting events and tournament hosting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 3,000 guests capacity for large events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sanjay FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive caterers for Asian weddings at Dallas Burston Polo Club. Sanjay Foods acts as representatives for IXL Events to manage and cater all Asian style functions. Multi-award-winning Asian catering and event management company providing exceptional dining experience for weddings.
• NFU MutualminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner and supporter of Dallas Burston Polo Club. Marketing association partnership providing business benefits.
• LandS EventingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent management partner for SuperArena and polo pitches. Contact for hiring SuperArena and polo grounds. Contact: 07967 457588 or [email protected]
• Fairfax & FavourminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner and supporter of Dallas Burston Polo Club.
• Polo Club HotelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-site boutique hotel partnership. Under construction as part of £122 million investment. Overlooking polo grounds and countryside. Venue partner offering accommodation for club visitors.
• Komodo FireworksminorOthersNominated supplier for fireworks at events. Available for customer use when booking fireworks at the Club.
• Richard George TailoringminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBespoke tailoring showroom opened at Golden Jubilee at Dallas Burston Polo Club. Offering suits, travelling tailor service, pre-wedding services for grooms, and style advice.
• The Good Grief ProjectminorOthersChosen charity for 2020. Charity bonfire night event raised funds for the organization set up by bereaved parents to help people manage and express grief creatively.
• IXL Events CentrecoreOthersParent/related entity - 3,000 person capacity conference and events venue within Dallas Burston Polo Club. Luxury event venue with King's Court, lounges, and banquet facilities.
• The Millstone HarecoreOthersOn-site pub and restaurant. Bar and lounge plus function venue. New-build thatched roof building with comfortable pub-style dining for 70 downstairs and function space upstairs (The Drawing Room) for up to 75 guests.
• Laurent-PerrierminorOthersChampagne pouring partner to IXL Events. Exclusive champagne supplier for events.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hurtwood Park Polo Club: Surrey-based polo club offering polo tuition, livery, and event facilities. Comparable in providing polo lessons and event hire on a multi-purpose estate.
• Kirtlington Park Polo Club: Oxfordshire polo club offering polo experiences and venue events. Comparable as a UK polo venue with diversified event hire beyond core polo membership.
• Guards Polo Club: Premier UK polo club and venue with significant membership and event hosting. Comparable as an upper-tier polo and equestrian venue competing for corporate hospitality and society events.
• Hickstead: All-England equestrian venue hosting show jumping and event competitions with on-site facilities. Comparable as a UK equestrian sports venue with year-round event operations.
• Cowdray Park Polo Club: One of the UK's leading polo clubs with multiple grounds and a strong events/wedding business. Directly comparable to DBPC as a destination polo estate combining sport, hospitality, and venue hire.

Broad incumbents

• Pennyhill Park Hotel: Luxury UK hotel and events venue with extensive wedding and conference facilities. Comparable as a premium UK events venue competing for high-end weddings and corporate functions.
• Ascot Racecourse: Iconic UK equestrian/racing venue with large-scale event, hospitality, and wedding operations. Comparable as an established equestrian venue that competes for premium events and weddings, though racing-focused rather than polo.
• Cheltenham Racecourse: Major UK racecourse hosting large-scale sporting events and corporate hospitality. Comparable as a regional destination venue competing for corporate event budgets.
• The Belfry Hotel & Resort: UK leisure resort with extensive conference, wedding and hospitality facilities. Comparable as a Midlands-region venue competing for corporate events and weddings.

Regional players

• Compton Verney: Warwickshire country estate operating as an art gallery and events/wedding venue. Comparable as a Midlands countryside estate venue competing for the same regional wedding and corporate event market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DBPoloClub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dallas-burston-polo-club-ixl-events-ltd-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dallas Burston Polo Club (IXL Events Ltd)