Kent Cricket promotes a welcoming environment by ending Hospitality dress codes
Tuesday 7th February 2023
Hospitality dress codes are relaxed as part of Kent Cricket’s Action Plan to make cricket more welcoming and inclusive for everyone.
Kent Cricket is pleased to confirm that there will no longer be a formal dress code for hospitality guests in place at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence or The County Ground, Beckenham from the 2023 season onwards.
The move – which is part of Kent Cricket’s Action Plan for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion – is designed to ensure that its venues, matchdays and major events are as welcoming and inclusive as possible.
Kent Spitfires’ T20 opener is against Gloucestershire at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury on Wednesday 24 May 2023 – entry to all scheduled T20 home matches is included in Kent Cricket Memberships, on sale now.
Matchday hospitality information
Following on from ground development work in the winter to improve accessibility at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence – including the installation of a changing places unit adjacent to the Les Ames Stand and submitting a planning application to Canterbury City Council on improving the entrance to the ground from Old Dover Road – the Club is committing to removing any potential barriers to anyone wishing to experience Matchday Hospitality across Kent Cricket’s grounds.
Kent Cricket’s CEO, Simon Storey, said: “With less than 60 days to the new season, everyone at the Club is looking forward to welcoming our Members and supporters back to The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence and The County Ground, Beckenham.
“We are committed to ensuring that cricket in Kent is a game for everyone.
“We know that formal dress codes in our hospitality areas can get in the way of some people wanting to watch cricket and we need to continue to ensure that our game is accessible to everyone.
“We hope that changes to the dress code in our Hospitality spaces will make people feel more comfortable joining us – and by removing uniformity in how people are dressed, we’ll be able to celebrate individuality and diversity.
“We are convinced that this decision will help create a great atmosphere and ensure all of our guests enjoy their visit.
“Of course, there are guests who will still wish to wear formal attire when attending our matches and where appropriate, a sense of occasion and tradition at certain events can still be observed. There is a medium to be found between that sense of occasion and people coming as they are. With the right approach, we can achieve both.
“Creating a welcoming environment at Kent Cricket is one of our top priorities and this decision is another important step in removing any barriers to those wishing to attend our matches in future.”
This news follows other announcements made today:
- Efforts have been made to move T20 match start times to enable better use of public transport, based on feedback from Members & supporters
- Kent Spitfires vs. Essex Eagles on 7 June will be a T20 double-header
- South East Stars will face Central Sparks in the Charlotte Edwards Cup at 14:30, Kent Spitfires will face Essex Eagles at 19:00
- One ticket will have access to both matches
- South East Stars will face Central Sparks in the Charlotte Edwards Cup at 14:30, Kent Spitfires will face Essex Eagles at 19:00
- Kent Spitfires vs. Hampshire Hawks on 9 June will be Kent Cricket’s Pride match, taking place across the same weekend as the Pride Canterbury event in the City
- Both aforementioned T20 matchdays will form part of the 171st Canterbury Cricket Week
Sign-up for Vitality Blast ticket priority now
Registration sign-ups close at 23:59 on Wednesday 8 February
2023 Members and Ticket Bundle holders, and 2022 Vitality Blast ticket purchasers, do not need to register for priority access, but are invited to sign-up to purchase additional tickets for friends & family
