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Utilita Bowl: visitor guide

Updated October 2026 · Prices and rules checked against Hampshire’s own pages · How we check

Utilita Bowl is Hampshire’s home in West End, on Southampton’s eastern edge. Still widely known as the Rose Bowl, it offers long county afternoons, Hampshire Hawks T20 evenings and England internationals, with an on-site Hilton overlooking the pitch. Plan the last part of your journey as carefully as your seat: the railway stations are outside walking distance for some visitors. Last checked: October 2026.

History →

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At a glance: Utilita Bowl

Gates openSee match-day timings below
AddressBotley Road, SO30 3XH
CapacityAround 15,000
Nearest stationHedge End station
Parking at groundPre-book match parking
Home teamHampshire

Met Office forecast for Southampton

The ground

The Rose Bowl feels different from a city-centre ground. You arrive at a broad, landscaped venue, with the stadium bowl set apart from Southampton’s busiest streets. Inside, open seating and the grassy berm give the boundary room to breathe. The hotel rises above the northwestern end, while the Rod Bransgrove Pavilion anchors the opposite side. It is a ground where the wide view is part of the pleasure: you can follow a batter’s placement and watch the field change as a session unfolds.

Hampshire’s digital stadium tour puts names to the buildings. Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie, the captain of Hampshire’s first Championship-winning side, is remembered on the eastern stand. Shane Warne’s name belongs to the western stand, recalling his time with the county. The Pavilion contains the Arlott Atrium and rooms named for Hampshire players including Robin Smith and Derek Shackleton. These are useful landmarks as well as links to the club’s story.

A Championship morning is a chance to settle into the rhythm of a four-day game. At a Hawks evening the crowd and pace change: the wickets, boundary shots and short spells arrive quickly, and the journey home becomes part of your planning. The Hundred brings Southern Brave matchdays, with admission and seating arrangements distinct from Hampshire’s domestic programme.

The Utilita Bowl is the current sponsored name; the Rose Bowl remains a helpful name when looking up older photographs or asking about the venue. The hotel, restaurant, spa and golf course share the site. The official visitor guide explains where you can go with your particular ticket.

Read the history of the Rose Bowl →

Read the history of Southampton →

Utilita Bowl cricket ground with the on-site Hilton beyond the boundary
Photo: Phil Guest, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

Facilities

  • Matchday ticket offices at East and West Gates
  • Information point in Arlott Atrium
  • Domestic venue map marks standard and accessible toilets, Changing Places toilet, water stations and first aid points; use the amenity icons to find the nearest one.

Stands and where to sit

Shane Warne is southwest; Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie is northeast. Both give side-on views. The Pavilion is southeast. Hilton End names the hotel end; match maps sell boundary seats by lettered block. The berm also provides circulation, food and activities.

For a sunny summer day, western seats get the morning sun and covered rows shade after lunch. The eastern stand faces afternoon sunshine. Pavilion seating gets a mix throughout the day. Much of the ground is uncovered; choose a roofed rear row for shelter.

Hampshire domestic seating is unallocated except Ticket Plus and hospitality. Blocks A, B, W and X and the Roof Terrace are members’ areas. International and Hundred seating is allocated: select the block and seat on the booking map. Guest vouchers can include members’ facilities; an ordinary public ticket does not. Confirm the voucher’s viewing area.

Utilita Bowl stands and afternoon sunNorth points upper left. Shane Warne is southwest, Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie northeast, Rod Bransgrove Pavilion southeast and Hilton hotel northwest. Yellow marks the eastern seating facing afternoon sun.Shane WarneStandColin Ingleby-MackenzieStandRod BransgrovePavilionNAfternoon sunHilton EndRod BransgrovePavilion End
A general guide for a sunny summer day; front rows catch more sun.

Shane Warne Stand

Western side-on seats; includes the Shane Warne Suite and executive boxes. Roof detail: Rear rows covered.

  • Covered: Part
  • Morning: Sun
  • Afternoon: Shade under cover

Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie Stand

Eastern side-on seats; includes the Hampshire Suite, Udal Lounge and boxes. Roof detail: Rear rows covered.

  • Covered: Part
  • Morning: Shade under cover
  • Afternoon: Sun

Rod Bransgrove Pavilion

Includes the public Arlott Atrium, members’ seating, Derek Shackleton and Robin Smith suites.

  • Covered: Varies by area
  • Morning: Mixed
  • Afternoon: Mixed

Shane Warne Suite and boxes

Suite and executive boxes within the western stand.

Hospitality package

View hospitality packages →
  • Covered: Package-dependent cover
  • Morning: Mixed
  • Afternoon: Mixed

Hampshire Suite, Udal Lounge and boxes

Hampshire Suite, Udal Lounge and boxes within the eastern stand.

Hospitality package

View hospitality packages →
  • Covered: Package-dependent cover
  • Morning: Mixed
  • Afternoon: Mixed

Robin Smith Suite packages

Robin Smith Suite packages and other premium Pavilion arrangements.

Hospitality package

View hospitality packages →
  • Covered: Package-dependent cover
  • Morning: Mixed
  • Afternoon: Mixed

BEEFY’S and Chandon Terrace

BEEFY’S dining, Chandon Terrace and private-box packages.

Hospitality package

View hospitality packages →
  • Covered: Package-dependent cover
  • Morning: Mixed
  • Afternoon: Mixed

Explore the club’s digital stadium tour. The Standard membership includes two domestic-format guest vouchers, while Premium membership includes three; the club says these give guests use of members’ facilities. The Derek Shackleton Bar is reserved for members on domestic days and the Robin Smith Suite for Executive Club members. The Arlott Atrium is open to all spectators.

Staying over? Compare hotels near Utilita Bowl →

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Getting there

By taxi or drop-off

The domestic ground map marks a pick-up and drop-off area beside Marshall Drive, outside the West Gate side. Follow the traffic instructions for your match. Check whether your preferred taxi app serves the area.

Sources: Southampton City Council: taxi complaints

Hedge End is less than two miles away: Hampshire gives a thirty-five-minute walk. If that does not suit your group, plan the bus, match shuttle or a pre-booked taxi. National Rail’s station information covers platform access and facilities.

The club’s ordinary travel information identifies Bluestar 14 between Southampton city centre, West End and Hedge End station, and Bluestar 24 between Eastleigh, Southampton Airport Parkway, West End and the ground’s neighbourhood. Bluestar’s venue page links to its journey planner. Check the current boarding stop and timetable.

For Blast and Hundred matchdays, the published venue guide offers free rail shuttles from Hedge End and Southampton Airport Parkway. The Blast guide says buses run from thirty minutes before gates open until about an hour after the match, with no separate bus ticket needed. For internationals, rail shuttles are ticketed. The published 2027 Pakistan ODI travel product lists return fares of £5 for adults and £3 for under-17s from either station; train fares and station parking are separate.

Match-day parking must be booked for the right fixture. Limited on-site spaces are offered through the ticket store, with close-to-gate parking arranged separately for accessible requirements. The 2027 Pakistan ODI travel product lists £25 on-site parking and £20 Park & Walk. The 2026 Blast guide lists Park & Walk at £15. These are examples for their named matches, rather than a single tariff for every event.

Park & Walk uses Car Park 11 off the A27 Moorhill Road, postcode SO30 3AY. The venue describes grass parking followed by roughly ten minutes on a tarmac path containing hills; it is unsuitable for some access requirements. Park & ride has been provided for particular major events, but its 2027 site and service details are TBC: check the named fixture. Avoid parking in neighbouring residential streets.

Book ahead

Trains to Southampton

Compare Hedge End and Southampton Airport Parkway arrivals, then plan the match shuttle or bus.

Compare train times →

Parking near the Utilita Bowl

Compare spaces with the official on-site and Park & Walk products for your fixture.

Find a parking space →

Getting home

Check your match guide for the expected finish. Play can finish early or run late. Use Southampton Airport Parkway or Southampton Central for onward trains, including London Waterloo and coastal or westward connections. The domestic ground map marks a pick-up and drop-off area beside Marshall Drive, outside the West Gate side. Follow the traffic instructions for your match. Check your last train in the National Rail journey planner and allow time to leave the ground.

Tickets: when they go on sale and what they cost

Last checked: October 2026

For Hampshire cricket, buy from the official ticket store. Championship is sold by day. White-ball matches have separate tickets and bundles; check which fixtures your purchase includes.

International sales give adult Hampshire members first access, followed by the venue’s Priority Club and public ballot arrangements. Its 2027 Ashes information lists member windows at 12:00 on 8 September 2026 for three-year members, 11 September for two-year members and 18 September for new members. Priority Club follows at 12:00 on 21 September. Junior membership does not include international priority.

The free public ballot ran from 2 September to 23:59 on 29 September 2026. Successful entrants can buy from 12:00 on 2 October; remaining seats reach general sale at 10:00 on 14 October. Seat tariffs and an official resale opening are TBC; follow ticket announcements and your account email.

Domestic 2027 day-ticket prices are TBC. The table gives dated 2026 admission examples; 2027 membership is covered below. Under-17 is the club’s junior category. Kids-go-free offers apply to selected fixtures.

Hampshire ticket prices — dated guides where 2027 prices are TBC
Format / seasonAdult guideJunior guide
2026 Championship, advanceFrom £15£5 under-17
2026 men’s Blast, early birdFrom £20£5 under-17
2026 Blast double-header, early birdFrom £24£5 under-17
2026 women’s Blast, early birdFrom £12£5 under-17
2026 men’s One-Day Cup, advanceFrom £15£5 under-17
2026 women’s One-Day CupFrom £10£5 under-17
2027 England internationalsTBCTBC

Last checked: October 2026

County membership

Hampshire lists Standard membership at £230 for 2027, covering home Championship cricket and men's and women's One-Day Cup group games. Premium is £300 for 2027 and adds domestic T20 group admission; eligible early-bird and auto-renew discounts are explained by the club. Compare county memberships →

Your ticket on the day

Use the delivery method chosen when booking: the Utilita Bowl Tickets app or an electronic ticket; app barcodes appear five hours before the scheduled start on match day. For app problems, go to the match-day ticket office outside East or West Gate; only the original purchaser can request a lost-ticket duplicate. Advance sales are also handled by the on-site store inside West Gate. Under-17 group bookings may require proof of age, and staff may check age at entry.

Children and age rules

Children aged 14 and under need a parent, guardian or responsible adult; parents decide whether those aged 15–17 may attend alone. A strict Challenge 25 policy applies to alcohol sales, so carry accepted legal ID. Check hospitality age limits with the seller. Taking the family

Buy tickets from the club’s official ticket office or the resale platform named by that seller. Use the official resale route and read Action Fraud’s ticket fraud advice.

Sources: Hampshire: ticketing and match-day FAQs · Hampshire: Blast visitor guide · Hampshire: England men’s international visitor guide · Hampshire: domestic cricket ground map · Hampshire: ground visitor guide · Hampshire: ticket terms and conditions · National Rail: Southampton Airport Parkway station · Southampton Airport: train connections · National Express: Southampton coach station

County cricket at Southampton

For a dated 2026 guide, Hampshire Championship adult advance tickets started at £15 and under-17 admission was £5. Men’s One-Day Cup admission also started at £15. Prices increased on the match day; use the ticket office or official store for the fixture’s walk-up tariff. The 2027 domestic day-ticket prices are TBC.

Hampshire Hawks’ 2026 early-bird adult tickets started at £20 for a men’s Blast game, £24 for a doubleheader and £12 for a standalone women’s fixture. Under-17 tickets were £5. These are advance-season guide prices, with a higher match-day rate; buy the product for the match or doubleheader you want.

For 2027, Standard membership is £230 and includes Championship and men’s and women’s One-Day Cup cricket. Premium is £300 and adds men’s and women’s Blast group matches. Compare the included fixtures before choosing: international admission is purchased separately.

Domestic members’ areas include blocks A, B, W and X, the Roof Terrace and Derek Shackleton Bar. Standard includes two domestic guest vouchers and Premium three, with access to members’ facilities as described by the club. Robin Smith is an Executive Club facility; the Arlott Atrium is open to all spectators.

Pet dogs are not allowed. The regulations permit registered assistance animals, and the club’s accessibility information welcomes assistance dogs.

County cricket explained: choose a format and plan a day →

Official county-day information: Source 1 · Source 2 · Source 3 · Source 4 · Source 5

Hampshire Women’s 2026 One Day Cup home opener against Essex was listed at the Utilita Bowl on 11 April; the club offers a women’s season-ticket route. Southampton women’s fixture source · Women’s county teams and tickets.

What you can take in

Last checked: October 2026

The current linked ground regulations prohibit glass vessels and large items that cannot fit under a seat. There is no numerical bag-size limit in that document. Pack a small bag that can be searched, decant drinks into non-glass containers and keep the space beneath your seat clear.

No alcohol may be brought in for men’s or women’s internationals, The Hundred, T20 double-headers or men’s Blast single matches. For other domestic men’s and women’s fifty-over matches, Championship and women’s T20 single-headers, an adult over eighteen may bring either one bottle of still or sparkling wine or Champagne, maximum 750ml and decanted into a non-glass vessel; four regular-strength beers, maximum 500ml each; or four pre-mixed aperitifs, maximum 330ml each.

Spirits, fortified wines and alcohol above sixteen per cent ABV are prohibited. No alcohol may be brought on re-entry or taken out. Alcohol-free areas prohibit both bringing in and consuming alcoholic drinks. The club operates Challenge 25 for purchases: take accepted photographic identification if you may be asked for it.

Small picnics have been permitted in the venue’s published cricket visitor guidance, but check the current match guide for food and sealed-drink arrangements. Refillable water fountains are available at both ends of the Shane Warne Stand and at the hotel end of Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie. Keep packaging compact and leave glass jars and metal picnic cutlery at home.

The prohibited list includes poles, inflatables, air horns, whistles, drums, megaphones, fireworks, flares, lasers and drones. Flags must not carry offensive or football-related logos. Do not block other spectators’ views or the gangways. Professional photography equipment and musical instruments require advance written authorisation. Assistance animals are permitted; other animals are not, including pet dogs on county days. Compare ground rules before packing.

Book ahead

Paying at the ground

The Utilita Bowl is cashless, so bring a payment card. Ask the club about cash-machine provision if you need it.

Where to stay

Last checked: October 2026

Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl is on the site, overlooking the northwestern boundary. Some rooms face the pitch; select that room category. BEEFY’S restaurant and eforea spa have separate reservations and terms from a match ticket.

For the immediate neighbourhood, look for West End and Hedge End. Check each hotel’s bus or taxi route. Southampton city centre offers restaurants and rail arrivals at Southampton Central; confirm the late connection back.

For a mid-range option, weigh the neighbourhood against a Southampton city-centre base. These are choices rather than fixed price bands: use your actual match dates and cancellation terms. A room booking does not automatically include stadium admission.

Book ahead

Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl

On site at the Hilton End; select a pitch-view room if you want one.

Check Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl →

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Hotels near the Utilita Bowl

Compare stays around West End, Hedge End and Southampton city centre.

See hotels near the Utilita Bowl →

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Before and after the cricket

SeaCity Museum explores maritime history and Southampton’s Titanic connection. Tudor House & Garden is a house and garden in the Old Town. Solent Sky is an aviation museum.

On a day without cricket, choose between SeaCity Museum, Tudor House & Garden and Solent Sky. Save a museum visit for a morning without cricket or for an extra day in Southampton. Leave any plans after play open enough to cope with a delayed finish.

BEEFY’S Bar & Restaurant is an option for a meal around your cricket visit. Check its menu, booking conditions and kitchen times for the day, especially if you hope to eat after an evening match. Official Southampton tourism has further things to see and do; pick what suits your free time and confirm each attraction’s opening hours.

Fixtures at the Utilita Bowl

Announced 2027 internationals at the Utilita Bowl
Date in 2027MatchFormatStartTicket status
15 May 2027England men v PakistanODI11:00Ballot window; general sale 14 October
13 July 2027England women v AustraliaAshes ODI13:00Ballot window; general sale 14 October
21–25 July 2027England men v AustraliaAshes Test11:00Ballot window; general sale 14 October

County Championship, Blast and One-Day Cup 2027 fixtures are TBC. Check Hampshire’s fixtures for the venue as well as the date: some county cricket is played at outgrounds. England dates are confirmed in the ECB’s 2027 programme.

2027 county fixtures

Match-day timings

Match-day timings at the Utilita Bowl
FormatGates openFirst ballBreaksUsual finish
Championship (2026)60 minutes before play–––
One-Day Cup (2026)60 minutes before play–––
Blast (2026)90 minutes before a single fixture; 60 minutes before a double-header–––
England internationals — Current club FAQ, checked 19 October 2026 (2026)2 hours before play–––

Blank = not published by Hampshire; check your match guide.

Times from Hampshire’s standing match-day guidance, checked in October 2026; check your match guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Utilita Bowl the Rose Bowl?

Yes. The Utilita Bowl is the current sponsored name of the ground widely known as the Rose Bowl, in West End near Southampton.

Which station is nearest to the Utilita Bowl?

Hedge End is less than two miles away, with the club giving a walk of about thirty-five minutes. Southampton Airport Parkway is approximately three and a half miles away; check the event shuttle or a local bus.

Can I bring alcohol to Hampshire county cricket?

The ground regulations allow a limited quantity at Championship and eligible fifty-over fixtures, in non-glass containers. They prohibit bringing alcohol to internationals, The Hundred, men’s Blast and T20 double-headers.

Can I bring a dog to county cricket?

Pet dogs are not allowed. The ground regulations permit registered assistance animals, and the accessibility information welcomes assistance dogs.

Are Hampshire domestic seats allocated?

Ordinary domestic seating is unallocated, except Ticket Plus and hospitality. Members’ blocks and the Roof Terrace require the correct membership or eligible guest entitlement.

Is there a hotel at the cricket ground?

Yes. Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl is on site. Some rooms face the pitch; choose that room category when booking and check how a stay relates to match admission.

Do I need to print my ticket?

Use the delivery method chosen when booking: the Utilita Bowl Tickets app or an electronic ticket; app barcodes appear five hours before the scheduled start on match day. For app problems, go to the match-day ticket office outside East or West Gate; only the original purchaser can request a lost-ticket duplicate.

What time do the gates open?

The club’s standing guide opens gates 60 minutes before Championship and One-Day Cup cricket, 90 minutes before a single Blast match, 60 minutes before a Blast double-header and two hours before internationals. Check your match guide for any changes.

What time does play finish?

Check your match guide for the expected finish. Play can finish early or run late.

Can children go on their own?

Children aged 14 and under need a parent, guardian or responsible adult; parents decide whether those aged 15–17 may attend alone. A strict Challenge 25 policy applies to alcohol sales, so carry accepted legal ID.

Accessibility

Book wheelchair viewing, essential companion seats and close-to-gate parking with Hampshire before travelling. The berm provides a level route around the bowl, but some pitch-level areas have steps. Read the Southampton accessibility guide.

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