Two local businesses are to serve up a new locally sourced drinks menu at Shropshire County Cricket Club’s hugely popular hospitality day this summer.
The well established annual event, sponsored by Pure Telecom, takes place at Wrekin College on Thursday, July 11.
It’s already sold out with nearly 680 guests from the county’s business community set to be entertained in a luxury marquee as Shropshire’s cricketers face Scottish champions Grange CC from Edinburgh.
Always keen to bring new ideas to an event now into its 13th year, organiser Toby Shaw, the Shropshire CCC chairman, has invited Thomas Holt from Shropshire wine company Paso-Primero and Darren Tomkins from Pop Up Shrop, hospitality and event specialists, to be involved for the first time.
“They will help bring a new dimension to the day by running the bar,” said Toby “We will be having a new wine list, local beers and a gin bar, which we’ve never had before, and there will also be a live band appearing after the cricket, so that will be another first for the event.”
Shropshire winemaker Thomas added: “This is one of the most important events in the Shropshire social calendar. We hope that with the support of everyone involved we can make 2019 the most enjoyable year yet.
“My involvement is to provide the wines – I’m from Shrewsbury but make my wines for Paso-Primero in Spain.
“We are delighted to be working with Toby to promote the benefits of local businesses coming together and collaborating on events, ideas and sharing skills.
“All the products behind the bar will be sourced locally, including a dedicated gin menu featuring Shropshire distilleries, and delivered by people dedicated to finding the best that Shropshire businesses have to offer.”
Darren is also bowled over to be bringing his expertise to the cricket event: “Pop Up Shrop has been operating for three years,” he said. “We have delivered a diverse range of tastings, parties and weddings across the county and beyond with our unique style and bespoke offerings.
“It’s our job to ensure guests have the most enjoyable experience possible and we aim to showcase the best that Shropshire and its borderlands has to offer on our bars.”
Thomas and Darren have arranged a pre-event wine tasting evening at Hatfields Land Rover in Shrewsbury on Wednesday, June 5.
Invited guests, including the table hosts for the Shropshire CCC hospitality day, will be able to sample what will be served the following month.
Pictured: Toby Shaw, centre, the chairman of Shropshire County Cricket Club and annual hospitality event organiser, with left, Darren Tomkins from Pop Up Shrop and Paso-Primero’s Thomas Holt.