The British Beach Polo Championships return to Sandbanks in Poole on 10 and 11 July, bringing world-class polo and evening entertainment to one of the UK’s most exclusive stretches of coastline. Gates open at 1:00 PM each day, with sport giving way to DJ sets and live bands as the two‑day event runs through until 1:00 AM. Now in its 19th year, the tournament remains the largest beach polo competition in the world and a firmly established date in the Dorset summer calendar.
Founded in 2008 by Johnny Wheeler, Sandpolo was conceived to transplant the drama of traditional polo onto the sand and to create a signature event for the South Coast. The first British Beach Polo Championships were staged within eight months of the initial idea, and the gathering has since grown to attract up to 10,000 spectators. Play takes place directly on the Blue Flag beach at Sandbanks, with Poole Bay providing the backdrop.
Visitors can watch from general admission areas or upgrade to trackside hospitality, including the Gold Hospitality marquee. A street food village and pitch‑side bar operate throughout the day. According to the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Tourism website, the event is designed to make polo accessible to newcomers while offering dedicated fans an energetic spectator experience. Evening entertainment then takes over, with DJs and live acts performing until the early hours on both Friday and Saturday.
The event also supports Lewis Manning Hospice Care through an annual charity race that pits a polo pony against an Audi, a fixture that has become a crowd favourite. Recent editions have featured appearances by Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp and DJ Sam Young, whose credits include sets for George Clooney and Idris Elba. With Sandbanks often nicknamed “Britain’s Palm Springs,” the championships continue to draw a mix of day‑trippers, overnight visitors, and a loyal social following to the peninsula.
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