In celebration of the newly upgraded Purdey at the Royal Berkshire, and in honour of the Purdey legacy and commitment to excellence, Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh officially reopened the shooting grounds to the public this week.
In keeping with a long-established tradition, Their Royal Highnesses broke a few clay pigeons to mark the occasion – similar to the breaking of champagne on the hull of a ship at its launch, this is a symbol of good luck and fortune for the grounds and all who enjoy shooting there. The guns used to break the clays were a particularly significant pair: originally owned by Tom Purdey, they have been shot by Royalty in various capacities over the last half a century. Both are classic examples of the workmanship that Purdey is renowned for, and are now on display at the Royal Berkshire.
“It was an honour to welcome The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to our fully reworked shooting grounds. It’s a really special launch for Purdey that builds on our foundations and heritage to offer the best game and clay shooting experiences in the world.” – Dan Jago, Purdey CEO & Chairman
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, who were among the first to explore the redesign, were given a full behind-the-scenes tour of Purdey at the Royal Berkshire. Set in a beautiful chalk valley, surrounded by woods and spinneys, the grounds allow Purdey to simulate every bird species you might encounter in the British field, or indeed abroad. There are now pathways all the way up the valley and through the woodland, and 10 new shooting stands, bringing the total to 48 – including six more in the woodland. Target practice is at its most challenging from the high tower, which has been raised by over 5m to 21.6m, making it the highest in the UK. There are also increased rewilding initiatives, including tree planting and pond restoration. The joy of this setup is that it’s far from fixed, with the team constantly switching things up to keep you on your toes.
“We have done a huge amount of work to create some of the best simulated game shooting in the UK. Over the last year we have added 10 more stands. The majority of these are within our new ‘woodland range’, which also incorporates one of the highest clay towers in the UK. We still have our famous grouse butts, but can now offer practice on every type of game.” – Steve Turner, Purdey Shooting Instructor
Before and after a shoot, guests can head to the newly built Lodge and Club House, where interiors have been curated by the keen eye of Purdey Creative Director Giles Deacon, with subtle design details that quietly echo our rich heritage. From tuition debriefs, to long lunches and fireside chats, it’s a beautiful and versatile space that welcomes old friends and new connections alike. You can pop into the Gun Room and Country Store while you’re there too, where the team are passionate shots themselves, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the sport and a skill for knowing exactly what you need to enhance your experience.
“The relaunch is a complete rework that we’ve been building non-stop for over six months. It’s really very special. The Lodge and Club House are brand new, and a real upgrade of our hospitality facilities that’s far more elevated – whether you’re dining outside on the new terrace overlooking the valley, or fireside in the winter. The look and feel, designed by Giles Deacon, is spectacular. From a shooting perspective, if you look down the valley from the new Lodge there are three distinct sections: on the left hand side are new wooded stands, which didn’t exist historically, including the highest tower in the UK; the main valley has been fully redesigned, with a new gravel path that links every single stand; and to right the grouse stands have been enhanced too. There is truly nowhere like it.” – Alastair Heathcote, Purdey at the Royal Berkshire General Manager
Purdey has always excelled at shooting instruction – and the relaunch of the grounds sees the introduction of new technology to make the experience even better. Sessions can be tailored to your preferred type of game shooting, now with the use of a shot camera to allow you to review, analyse and refine your shots in real-time. There are targets for those who have just got into the sport, as well as targets to test the sort of international shooting royalty Purdey is privileged to count as clients and friends. All abilities find common ground here; and every session is, truly, a game-changer.
On any given week, you’ll find one-to-one lessons taking place with the Purdey instructors, corporate team building away days or charity fundraising events for 100+ guests – each one as bespoke, seamless and memorable as any Purdey experience. So, whether you're here for the clay sport, preparing for an invitation to shoot in the UK’s wildest peripheries, or brushing up before partridge in Spain or doves in Argentina (the Purdey Sporting Agency are the ones to call to organise these special trips), there’s no better place to get your eye in.
Find out more about Purdey at the Royal Berkshire and book your experience, here.