Organisers of the annual Chestertons-sponsored polo event at Hurlingham Park has decided to postpone the tournament amid ‘truly torrid time for the events industry’.

Chestertons Polo in the Park, established in 2009, is held in Hurlingham Park in southwest London. The event typically attracts crowds of around 30,000 people across a three-day period every June.

But the tournament was cancelled in 2020 due to coronavirus and will now not be running in 2021 due to the continued threat of the virus and the need for social distancing. The event will return 3rd-5th June 2022.

Tickets had not gone on sale for 2021, but existing holders of tickets for the 2020 event will have the option to roll them on for the 2022 event or claim a full refund. Ballot tickets will be available again in 2022 for local residents and Chestertons Polo in the Park will continue to support local charities as a befits a major London event.

Rory Heron, CEO of Sportgate International, said: “It has been a truly torrid time for the event industry, and we are very sad about not being able to deliver this event in 2021 but the team at Chestertons Polo in the Park has been overwhelmed by the support of ticket-holders, suppliers and sponsors, including our headlines sponsor, Chestertons.

Salah Mussa, chairman of Chestertons, added: “We are very proud of having created an event that brings so much enjoyment to thousands of people every summer and the decision to postpone it until 2022 was a difficult one, especially when we know how much support the hospitality sector and local charities need right now. However, this only strengthens our resolve to return in 2022 and make the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration weekend in June one to remember.”