Sporting Luncheon Hospitality and Tickets

Sporting Lunch VIP Hospitality Packages – Midlands Sporting Lunch returns for 35th year in 2025

On Wednesday 10th December 2025, the highly rated Midlands Sporting Luncheon will enjoy its 35th anniversary. The rugby-themed Christmas sporting lunch continues to be one of the most popular events of the hospitality calendar and regularly attracts the biggest names in the sport.

Whether you are hosting a Christmas party or entertaining your important clients and stakeholders, this event will surely provide you with an unforgettable afternoon.

The sporting luncheon takes place at the fabulous Macdonald Burlington Hotel in the centre of Birmingham. This historic venue is one of Birmingham’s finest hotels and is just a short walk away from the stunning New Street Station.

Enjoy fine dining with a superb four-course lunch, followed by our brilliant Heads or Tails auction game and a silent auction with proceeds going to a nominated charity. But the real highlight of the event is the outstanding guest speakers and guests of honour.

Our Guest Of Honour for 2024 was Alun Wyn Jones OBE, the world’s most capped rugby union player. Over the course of his career, he received no less than 170 Caps overall, which includes 12 Caps for the British & Irish Lions. He is also best known for playing as a Lock for Ospreys, making more than 250 appearances for them between 2005 and 2023.

Jones is also one of only four players to have been selected for the British & Irish Lions for four tours: South Africa (2009), Australia (2013), New Zealand (2017) and South Africa again in 2021. He had the honour of being captain on his fourth and final tour with the team.

Guests enjoyed fascinating insight from Jones and our Master of Ceremonies Tim Stimpson. Renowned comedian and after dinner speaker Paul Boardman then took centre stage, entertaining everyone in the room with his hilarious observational comedy. Paul is the son of another famous comedian – Stan Boardman, who has had a career spanning more than 50 years since he started performing in the 1970s.

Paul Boardman is a popular regular on the Jongleurs Comedy Circuit, and he is also well renowned as an after dinner speaker.

Paul has also made a number of appearances in television, having performed on ‘Friday Night Live’, and he has extensive experience in the world of sports broadcasting as well, having worked as a freelance presenter on Sky Sports for 8 years.

Boardman also had a career as a football player, signing for Plymouth Argyle by the then Pilgrims Manager Peter Shilton – he also scored on his league debut against fellow South Coast side Bournemouth.

Our 2022 Sporting Luncheon was attended by Irish Rugby legend Brian O’Discroll holding the Six Nations record for most tries scored , with 26, whilst also achieving the record for most Heineken Cup tries for an Irishmen, all guests enjoyed hearing about his journey to victory at our 2022 Midlands Sporting Luncheon.

In 2021, we welcomed England Rugby legend and former Sale Sharks player Jason Robinson OBE to our Christmas Sporting Luncheon. Robinson was a key part of the Sharks’ Premiership winning side in 2006 and has won over 50 international caps!

In 2019, former England Rugby Captain and Northampton Saints hooker Dylan Hartley was our guest of honour. His past exploits excited the sell-out crowds as he delved into his controversial encounters with referees and the action off of the pitch with other Rugby legends and stars.

In 2018, we were delighted to announce our guest of honour, Mike Tindall MBE, Rugby World Cup winner and husband of the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips. Tindall’s take on the current England side and their chances in the 2019 World Cup in Japan were particularly fascinating.

2024 Guest of Honour Alun Wyn Jones joins an illustrious list of former guests, which includes; Jason Robinson OBE, Dylan Hartley, Mike Tindall OBE, Phil Vickery MBE, Jason Leonard OBE, Will Greenwood MBE, Ben Kay MBE, Will Carling OBE, Gavin Hastings OBE, Ieuan Evans, Rob Andrew MBE, Dean Richards, Jeremy Guscott, Sir Ian McGeechan and World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson CBE.

The Midlands Sporting Luncheon is a fantastic way to enjoy an afternoon of wonderful hospitality, doubling as the perfect opportunity for a Birmingham Christmas Party!

Live Screenings of the biggest sporting events of the year 

As well as running sporting luncheons, Eventmasters are also delighted to provide a fabulous range of live screenings for big sporting events. Recently we have hosted several live screenings of major England football matches.

For the 2016 European Championships, we hosted a live screening of England’s hotly-anticipated group clash with Wales. We enjoyed the company of Gary Newbon along with Neville Southall MBE and Ron Atkinson, for a wonderful afternoon’s entertainment. During the 2014 World Cup, we also hosted a screening of England’s match with Costa Rica.

In 2018, we hosted a live screening of England’s thrilling encounter with Belgium in the 2018 World Cup. Hosted at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham City Centre, the event delivered a fabulous afternoon of entertainment coupled with a delicious fine dining experience.

With highly renowned guest speakers from the world of football and fine dining, you can enjoy VIP treatment to go along with the action.

Live screening events allow you to entertain valued guests without leaving the country. The hospitality on offer is of the highest order and ensures that you and your guests will have a memorable afternoon.

Please register your interest for the 35th Annual Midlands Sporting Luncheon on Wednesday 10th December 2025 at the magnificent MacDonald Burlington Hotel in Birmingham, where our Master Of Ceremonies Tim Stimpson will be joined by a famous figure from the world of rugby, as well as a renowned comedian.

This page will be updated when all details have been confirmed. Feel free to contact us about this event via the form below, or by calling us on 0121 233 6500.

Register Your Interest in the Midlands Sporting Luncheon for 2025: