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A Day at Guards
Explore Guards Polo Club social membership, the Clubhouse restaurant by Searcys and Richard Corrigan, and one-off access to the Members’ Enclosure at Windsor Great Park.
Guards Polo Club Social Membership and Clubhouse Access
From time to time, Luxury Restaurant Guide extends introductions to private clubs.
Guards Polo Club is the latest — set within Windsor Great Park at Smith’s Lawn, and long established as part of the British summer season.
One of the largest polo clubs in Europe, it was founded in 1955 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. HM The King has been President since 2024, maintaining the club’s unrivalled Royal relationship.
The club remains closely tied to the traditions of the sport, while operating as a members’ club.
This introduction gives access to the Members’ Enclosure and Clubhouse — the part of Guards that sits slightly apart from the public side of the grounds.
The Setting
The Clubhouse at Smith’s Lawn sits at the centre of the club, looking directly onto the Queen’s Ground in Windsor Great Park. Several further polo fields surround it, with additional grounds at Flemish Farm deeper within the park, where the landscape opens out towards Windsor Castle.
Savill and Valley Gardens sit nearby, adding to the sense of space around the club.
The Clubhouse & Restaurant
The Clubhouse brings together the restaurant, members’ bar, lounge and terrace, all looking out across the club’s number one ground.
This idyllic setting makes it an exquisite location to entertain family, friends or clients.
Lunch is taken here, with tables set across the dining room and outside on the terrace. It features Searcys-managed dining, working with Richard Corrigan at key VIP events across the season.
It’s the natural point to settle in — a table, the view, and the afternoon ahead.
The Season
Polo runs from May through to September, with a fixture list that builds across the summer, including a number of high-goal matches.
Some days’ play is in front of the Clubhouse; on others it sits further out across the grounds. The main finals bring a different energy, but much of the season is quieter — and it’s during these periods that the club is best understood.
Social Membership
For those considering Guards’ social membership, time spent here tends to answer most questions.
There are around 1,000 social members, alongside a smaller group of playing members, including some of the highest-rated players in the world. It’s a club people return to across the season — for matches, for lunch, and for the familiarity of the Clubhouse.
Membership centres on access — to the Members’ Enclosure, the Clubhouse, and the grounds — with the ability to bring guests, reserve tables, and enjoy the fixture list as the season unfolds.
Across the summer, more than 600 matches are played, alongside a calendar of club events. Members have use of dedicated grandstands for the main finals, along with priority booking for key fixtures such as the Cartier Queen’s Cup.
There is also a wider aspect — reciprocal access to a number of international clubs, along with the quieter details that come with membership, from the annual yearbook to regular club updates.
Fees are structured annually, with a one-off joining fee and annual subscription. As a guide:
– Single membership: £605 joining fee and £605 annually
– Joint membership: £690 joining fee and £750 annually
– Senior and junior categories available at adjusted rates
Full details and current availability are provided directly by the club. For further details please email jane.hebditch@guardspoloclub.com
Visiting Through Luxury Restaurant Guide
Luxury Restaurant Guide members are invited to arrange a one-off visit for themselves and a guest, via the Luxury Restaurant Guide app.
Visits take place across the polo season, from May to September, on selected days. Finals, major tournaments and ticketed events are excluded.
About Luxury Restaurant Guide
Luxury Restaurant Guide partners with some of the UK’s leading restaurants, hotels and private clubs — offering members dining privileges that are not publicly advertised, alongside selected introductions such as this.
A 14-day trial is available to explore the Guide and its restaurant privileges. Private club introductions and experience days are reserved for full members from £8 per month or £95 annually.
Guards Polo Club
Smith’s Lawn
Windsor Great Park, Surrey
SL5 7SA
