Lanky handing over the cheque.

It has been a very busy and successful 2011 at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, which is good news for Macmillan Cancer Support.

 Over the last 12 months The Point, the ground’s conference and events centre, has raised £1,604.00 for the Macmillan charity through its wine sale donations and from the Player of Year raffle, held in the venue to celebrate the club winning the County Championship outright for the first time in 77 years.

Sarah Page, Area Fund Raising Manager for Macmillan said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this donation from The Point. The money raised will allow Macmillan Cancer Support to continue to provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support for local people affected by cancer.

Sarah adds: “Cancer is the toughest fight most of us will ever face. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed, you need a team of people in your corner supporting you every step of the way.”

Peter Ash, Sales Manager for The Point said: “ Macmillan Cancer Support has been our preferred charity this year and we are very proud to have been involved with them. The work they carry out is amazing and we know that the money we have helped to raise will be put to very good use.”

The cheque handover took place in the foyer of The Point with the club’s mascot Lanky joining Macmillan’s Sarah Page for the photo shoot.   

If you would like to support Macmillan Cancer Support please get in touch on 01925 846744 or email spage@macmillan.org.uk

For further information on The Point please contact the Events Team

on: 0161 282 4020 or visit www.thepointatlccc.co.uk

Weddings at The Point

 Potential clients can now witness The Point, at Lancashire County Cricket Club, transform from a blank canvas into an extravagant wedding reception in a stunning new film which is available to view at http://tinyurl.com/bpwr2kb. 

The film, produced on behalf of catering specialists Payal Group by We-Cre8, enables potential clients to see the venue transformed from initial build up to the entrance of the blushing bride and groom.

Commenting on the video, Sales Manager for The Point Peter Ash said: “As our preferred caterer for Asian weddings we work very closely with the Payal Group. We are delighted with the production of this film that truly captures the versatility and shear size of The Point, and allows the venue to be viewed as an event organiser’s dream.”

Peter added: “Whether you are looking for your dream venue for a civil wedding or partnership or a stunning room in which to hold your wedding breakfast and evening reception The Point can supply all your requirements.”   

Payal Groups joint Managing Director, Raj Somaiya said: “With over 19 years of delivering this type of production, I can honestly say this concept will be most sought after by couples to re-live their momentous day.”

The Point, with a capacity for up to 1,000 guests and stunning views of the famous Old Trafford pitch is the perfect venue for those requiring a wedding on a larger scale.

The Payal Group consists of Payal Catering, Payal Prestige and Payal Events and have offices in Manchester and London  

For further wedding information please contact our experienced Events Team on 0161 282 4040 or events@lccc.co.uk for further information

LCCC Herb Garden

The Point at Lancashire County Cricket Club is not resting on its ‘green’ laurels. Having recently been awarded Gold Level from the Green Tourism Business Scheme, a national sustainable tourism certification scheme, The Point’s Green Team is now taking the venue’s environmental mission one-step further by growing its own produce.

A patch of land adjacent to the practise nets has been turned into a herb and vegetable garden. It is under the supervision of gardener Ronnie Jackson, who promises to give the practising cricketers their ball back if it lands in his garden.

Peter Ash, sales manager at The Point says: “One of the ‘must-haves’ we discussed when designing The Point was to make the building as sustainable as possible. This we have achieved, but we know that there are still other ways in which we can increase our environmental responsibility.”

Peter adds: “At LCCC we have always focused on providing the very highest standards of food and service for our customers. Our catering team has established an excellent reputation for the quality of its cuisine, and we saw the opening of The Point as a perfect opportunity to look into growing our own produce. We now grow a variety of herbs and vegetables that our chefs are able to pick on a daily basis to serve to guests attending events in the venue.”

Prior to taking charge of the herb garden, Ronnie, who has worked for the club for 15 years, grew the majority of the flowers for the beds and hanging baskets at the ground.

The garden was open in time for the first anniversary lunch of The Point and guests attending were served up vegetables freshly picked that morning.

For further information on The Point please contact the Events Team

On tel: 0161 282 4020 or visit www.thepointatlccc.co.uk

It's not just the grass that is green at LCCC!

The Point, the eye-catching red conference and events venue at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, is now officially ‘green’ after receiving an award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme, a national sustainable tourism certification scheme for the UK. 

A qualified assessor for the Green Tourism Business Scheme undertook an accreditation grading visit of the venue recently, which resulted in The Point achieving Gold level.

Commenting on the award Peter Ash, sales manager at The Point said: “In the planning stages we came up with a detailed brief for our architects, BDP, which incorporated a number of fundamental ‘must-haves’. One of those ‘must-haves’ was that special attention was given to making the building as sustainable as possible, with a host of green features designed in.”

Peter adds: “Not only has that brief achieved a Gold award for The Point, we have also received a silver award for our 68-bedroom Old Trafford Lodge.” 

During the assessment it was stated that The Point is an excellent example of a low impact building with energy consumption reduced through LED lights, solar hot water, highly efficient appliances and excellent insulation, with a recycling system that is extensive and very well managed with a 98% diversion rate from landfill.

The venue was also recognised for the way in which it promoted the green message to guests in raising their awareness of environmental issues and encouraging them to use public transport.

For further information on The Point please contact the Events Team

On tel: 0161 282 4020 or visit www.thepointatlccc.co.uk

Andrew Flintoff and Jim Cumbes cutting the cake

The Point at Lancashire County Cricket Club has celebrated its first year in business by holding a birthday lunch to say thank you to the many organisers they have worked with over the last 12 months.

Guest of honour at the celebration was Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff who took part in a humorous Q & A session and picked out one lucky raffle winner who received a signed Freddie shirt. The Money raised from the raffle is being shared between the LCCC Development Fund, Macmillan Cancer Support and Freddie’s own charity, the AF Foundation.

The multi-million pound conference and events venue was opened in 2010 by Andrew Flintoff and Robert Hough, Chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency and has since enjoyed growing success.

The Point has already played host to over 91 conventions, events, and formal dinners, welcomed 60,000 visitors, and achieved a turnover of around £2.5m.

The Point’s sales manager Peter Ash says: “ Our first year has been very exhilarating and successful which has resulted in positive feedback and, most importantly, repeat business. We thought it would be appropriate to invite those people who have been supportive and instrumental in our success to a celebratory birthday lunch.”

Peter adds: “ The last 12 months have also marked a new era for our conference and events team. They now have a venue to offer prospective clients with highly flexible and technically advanced conference and banqueting facilities, capable of catering for groups of up to 1,000.”

To add to The Point’s birthday celebrations LCCC’s CEO Jim Cumbes informed the guests that planning permission for a £32m redevelopment of Old Trafford had now been approved and work will start in September.

The Point

The Point at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, the new iconic conference and events venue designed by Manchester based BDP, was voted the ‘people’s favourite’ out of a total of 95 competing projects at the annual Manchester Society of Architects (MSA) Design Awards at Cube Gallery last night.

The MSA’s ‘People’s Prize’ is open to every project, in every category, that has been nominated for a MSA Design Award. The winner is decided by a ballot of visitors who have attended Cube’s exhibition of the shortlisted entries between May 5^th and May 12^th.  

BDP’s combined spectator, conference and hospitality facility also took top prize in the Design Awards Leisure & Cultural category, beating off stiff competition from a number of high profile projects.

Gavin Elliot, Chair of BDP’s Manchester Studio and the chief designer of The Point, said: “While it’s great to have won in the best Leisure & Cultural category, I’m really proud we have scooped the MSA People’s Award this year.

Gavin adds: “When the scheme was first announced the designs definitely raised a few eyebrows in both cricket and design circles, so the fact with nearly 100 top class projects to chose from the Manchester public voted The Point as their favourite is a fantastic endorsement of a truly innovative design.”

This is the second prestigious award BDP’s Manchester Studio has won for The Point this year. In March it won in the Lighting for Leisure Category at the national Lighting Design Awards. It has also been shortlisted for the RIBA awards that are announced this week.

Peter Ash, Sales Manager for The Point says: “We are delighted for the team at BDP that The Point has been voted The People’s Favourite. It is an eye-catching and thought-provoking building that works so well for events and is worthy of such an accolade.”

Fashion Kicks 2011

The FA Cup made its first public appearance following the Wembley final when it was paraded in front of a 600-strong audience attending Fashion Kicks 2011 at The Point at Old Trafford Cricket Ground.

Hosted by Manchester City and Republic of Ireland International goalkeeper Shay Given, and his wife Jane, Fashion Kicks 2011 took place at the newly developed 1,000-seat conference and banqueting venue on Sunday 15^th May in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, Beechwood Cancer Care Centre and the Adopt a School project.

Commenting on the evening, Shay who is patron of Macmillan Cancer support, said: “ Jane and I were overwhelmed by the support we received which helped to raise £145,000 on the night. This is our 5^th Fashion Kicks event and I can safely say it has been the best yet. The team at The Point were outstanding. I cannot think of anywhere else in Manchester that has the flexibility, facilities and service offered by this venue.”  

This star studded red-carpet show has quickly established itself as one of the must-see events of the year, attracting leading lights from the world of football, fashion and food.

With Manchester City’s first team squad toasting their FA Cup final victory by showing off their fancy footwork in the exclusive Selfridges fashion show, the event lived up to its promise of being the biggest yet.

For The Point’s sale manager Peter Ash the event had a touch of irony: “As an avid football fan it was a dream to see the FA Cup, but as a Stoke City fan I would have preferred to see it decorated in red and white! But as hard as it is to say I wouldn’t take anything away from the squad, they were clearly delighted, and the cup really added to the exciting atmosphere of the event.

Peter adds: “During the evening guests were treated to a lavish dinner prepared by some of Britain’s best chefs including our own Executive Head Chef Nic Ashurst. There was an auction hosted by The Point’s catering consultant Michelin-starred chef Paul Heathcote and to top it all the audience were wowed by a phenomenal set from pop star and X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke.

The auction helped Fashion Kicks reach the milestone of £1m raised for charity since the show’s inception eight years ago

Lily Cole

Supermodel and Actress Lily Cole will be modelling in the Fashion Kicks charity event held at  The Point, Lancashire County Cricket Club.The Ultra Glamourous event which is hosted by Manchester City football Shay Given and wife Jane, will see flame-haired beauty open the Selfridge’s fashion show along side an arrayof professional models, Manchester City players abd other Premiership footballers.

Fashion Kicks

Manchester City and Republic of Ireland International goalkeeper Shay Given, and his wife Jane, have announced exciting plans to host their eagerly anticipated Fashion Kicks event on Sunday May 15^th, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, Beechwood Centre for Cancer Care in Stockport and the ‘Adopt a School’ project’.

To find out more or to book tickets visit www.fashionkicks.org.uk

Now in its second year in Manchester, the star studded red-carpet event will be aiming to pass a spectacular milestone.

In its eight year history, Fashion Kicks has raised more than £900,000 for worthy causes.  Jane and Shay are hoping to crash through the £1m barrier with this year’s glitzy bash, that will see celebrities from the world of football, fashion and food unite in support of the worthy causes.

Held at The Point, Lancashire County Cricket Club’s newly developed £12m conference and events centre, guests can look forward to a sumptuous champagne reception with signature canapés designed by the Academy of Culinary Arts, in honour of the event.

The reception will then be followed by a lavish dinner created by some of British’s top best chefs, including celebrity chefs and restaurateurs Paul Heathcote, Nigel Haworth, Terry Laybourne and The Ritz’s John Williams.

The pinnacle of the evening will be a fashion show hosted by Selfridges, which last year saw Carlos Tevez, Adam Johnson, Patrick Vieira and Gareth Barry, among other players strike a pose.  The Manchester City stars will once again take to the catwalk to strut their stuff, modelling the new spring summer collections.

Anne Pitcher Managing Director said, “Once again Selfridges is delighted to be supporting this very worthwhile cause and helping the community of Manchester for what promises to be a fabulous evening.”

The event will culminate with a night of entertainment and a charity auction.   All the funds raised on the night will be distributed between the aforementioned charities.

Shay, who is a patron of Macmillan, commented: “My wife Jane and I are extremely proud to be able to support the outstanding work of the special charities involved, all of which make a real difference to the lives of so many people every day.

“The last Fashion Kicks was a sell-out and huge success for everyone involved who kindly donated their time to such great causes.  We can’t wait for this year’s event and look forward to seeing everyone again.”

Manchester City CEO, Garry Cook said:  “Shay and Jane’s passion and dedication over the years for raising funds for such great causes is an inspiration to everyone at Manchester City.  As a result of Fashion Kicks, many unsung charities get the recognition and support, they so readily deserve.  Jane and Shay not only have the Club’s unwavering support, but our upmost admiration and respect also.” 

 Tickets for the event are priced £120 per person, with the option of purchasing tables which seat 10.       A silver table will cost £1,250, a gold will cost £1,500, with a luxury platinum table costing £5,000.

To find out more or to book tickets visit www.fashionkicks.org.uk