Thorns Group is preparing to join the main suppliers to the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta.

The group, which is a leading provider of equipment and services to the events, exhibitions and conference sectors, has been contracted to supply furniture and equipment across the famous riverside setting.

Many thousands of items will be put to good use in a range of hospitality facilities, including the prestigious Phyllis Court Club, which is due to play host to more than 2,000 people a day during the five-day event.

Thorns Group will also provide furniture and catering equipment for visitors to beautiful Temple Island, as well as for the race grandstand and in a wide range of hospitality marquees. Among the thousands of individual items being supplied to the event are natural wooden garden furniture, banqueting tables and chairs, glassware and linen.

Other equipment will range from china and cutlery to trays, umbrellas and a dancefloor, while much of the furniture is to be supplied in specific colour schemes to tie in with clients’ theming and corporate identities.

Equipment for the regatta, which runs between July 2nd and 6th, is being supplied by two Thorns Group divisions — Camden Special Events and Thorns Furniture and Catering Hire.

Thorns Group Account Director Donna Comfort, who has co-ordinated the contract on behalf of the group, said:
“We are really looking forward to this year’s Henley Royal Regatta, which promises to be a superb sporting and social occasion.”

She added: “Once again, Thorns Group’s furniture and equipment will be used prominently across the site, building on a long and successful association between the group and the regatta’s organisers.

Henley Royal Regatta, which was first held in 1839, is one of the most popular events in the United Kingdom’s summer social calendar. Many thousands of spectators attend the regatta, which attracts rowers from across the world — including Canada, Australia, South Africa, the US and Europe.

Around 300 races will take place during the five-day gathering, with 19 finals due to be held on the closing day. Nearly 500 individual crews are expected to compete, with an entry list that includes a number of Olympic and world medallists.

Thorns Group, which is the United Kingdom’s leading single source supplier to the events, exhibitions and conference sectors, operates through four specialist divisions — Camden Special Events, Camden Exhibition Services, Thorns Furniture and Catering Hire and Classic Technical Services.

Between them, the divisions have acted as supplier to many of the United Kingdom’s leading sporting events, including the Martell Grand National, the Vodafone Derby, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships and the British Formula One Grand Prix.

The group’s clients can hire equipment from a stock of more than a million items, including chairs, tables, china, cutlery, glassware, silverware and linen. The group’s other services include specialist lighting and power supply, exhibition shell schemes, flooring, designer floral arrangements and bespoke furnishings.

Thorns Group operates from state-of-the-art headquarters in Tottenham, north London, with additional offices and warehousing in Manchester and Birmingham.