High Five for Five Iron Golf – I was offered the chance to try out a new facility that has recently opened in the City of London. It’s called Five Iron Golf, and while I’m not a golfer, my husband is, so we jumped at the chance. Little did I realise that as well as golf, Five Iron offers a whole range of other great sports simulations.
Five Iron Golf is the global leader in indoor golf and entertainment and its new Broadgate location is its first venue in the UK. Located at 1 Finsbury Avenue, just steps from Liverpool Street Station, (or a short walk from Bank underground) the 6,900-square-foot venue is the first location to open under a landmark 10-site UK franchise agreement. Five Iron Golf combines industry-leading Trackman simulator technology with a full-service bar and restaurant to create a one-of-a-kind hospitality destination. The company started in 2017 in New York, where there are now seven sites in Manhattan alone and locations across 20 states. There are also sites in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Madrid, so you can tell it’s a clever and successful concept.
Each of the venue’s eight TrackMan simulator bays gives a group of guests’ access to more than 440 iconic golf courses from around the world, while advanced swing analysis makes the experience equally suited for improving your game or simply enjoying a round with friends.
Add to that a full-service bar and restaurant serving tapas, artisan sourdough pizzas, gourmet burgers and shareable plates alongside craft cocktails, wine, champagne, spritzes and premium beers and you know it’s destined for great success. Floor-to-ceiling windows, a private terrace and large-format screens showing live sports also create an inviting atmosphere for after-work drinks, celebrations, client entertainment and watching the big game.
We had a chat with Eric Parker, CEO of Five Iron Golf, who said: “The response since we opened our doors in London has been incredibly encouraging. We’ve loved seeing golfers, first-timers, colleagues and groups of friends all embrace what Five Iron is about. We’re building something that goes well beyond traditional golf, a place where people can play, eat, drink, compete and spend time together.”
We started with golf, with me enjoying a relaxing G&T while watching my husband hit some rather wild shots into the rough, and the water, while he tried to find his past golfing prowess. There is access to more than 440 world renowned golf courses, so you can work your way around the globe if that floats your boat. The food is really good, and we enjoyed a selection of bar snacks, including delicious crispy popcorn chicken with gochujang bbq sauce, Iberico Ham croquettes and some absolutely delicious little sliders – beautifully pink burgers and top-quality meat. Butchers Blend Smash Sliders: they were the best sliders I’ve ever tasted. The snacks are very reasonably priced too.
After the lovely Robyn had cleared away the food plates, we chatted to Hannah, the event sales manager, who told us that they already have lots of regulars who even store their own golf clubs there, and pop in for a quick swing most mornings prior to going into the office.
It’s obvious that this is going to be a great success.
I was persuaded to have a go at clay pigeon shooting, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and then for a bit of fun before we headed home, we were introduced to a wild west saloon, given a pistol, and the chance to pop some shots at a group of very dodgy looking critters in a mock saloon bar.
It really is great fun and the food and drink are fabulous too.
I’d urge you to consider Five Irons for any kind of group activity – Christmas parties with a difference, hen nights, you name it, it will be fun at Five Iron.
The Seasoned Gastronome