Going to watch a game of football is an opportunity for supporters to take themselves away from their normal lives for 90 minutes and enjoy their favourite sport.
For some, it’s down to their local pub to catch up with friends and debate how their side should line up. For others, it’s straight to a food van, pick up a cheeseburger and head to their seat.
But on Sunday, I got to experience something I've never had the luxury of enjoying. I watched Manchester United's Premier League defeat to Wolves with special premium hospitality in the beautiful treble suite.
Circuit Hospitality are one of the trusted names in the business and is the foremost retailer of VIP packages at clubs, including Man United, so I knew we were in safe hands throughout.
Located in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand, the Treble Suite pays homage to United's historic treble win in 1999. Photographs of the three trophy celebrations sit on one wall, and an eye-catching metallic Premier League trophy is on one of the pillars inside.
Alongside my brother and mate, I got to experience watching United in all their glory. The Wolves fixture came just three days after the Europa League heroics against Lyon, and the atmosphere around Old Trafford reflected that.
We arrived outside Old Trafford at 11.15 a.m., more than two hours before kick-off, and thousands had already arrived. Pre-match food, beers, and ice cream were all indulged in as we made our way past the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand and towards the Munich Tunnel.
Old Trafford, despite its controversial fragilities with leaks and old-school look, remains a beautiful sight. So much history screams out to you as you walk around the ground, almost full of nostalgia from the 90s and 00s. Of course, the external view of the stadium is nowhere near the level of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or the Emirates Stadium, but inside, there are not many that can better Old Trafford.
The premium experience ticked all the right boxes that you'd want. Entering through the Munich Tunnel, you are led up one flight of stairs to a floor that has the Treble Suite and Warwick Suite, which serve a buffet of high-quality foods, and are met by members of staff.
Inside the Treble Suite is a small room with around 15 tables. When we arrived, a group of Wolves fans had already settled in alongside two male supporters. Our table had already been set up, and visitors were given a unique Manchester United scarf and souvenir-like lanyard to mark the day.
Throughout our visit, we were treated like royalty by the two young female waiters, who both offered exceptional customer service. A glass of champagne was offered upon our arrival alongside our first drink of the day.
Wine, beers, spirits, and soft drinks are all complimentary and delivered to your table within minutes. The food on offer was next-level, with three options for starters, main courses, and desserts.
I started with the pressed short rib with sticky honey glaze, pickled onions, watercress and shallot salad, and gochujang emulsion—the perfect starter. My main course was Filet steak, duck fat fondant, braised carrot, savoy cabbage, beef shin bite, and rich jus. To finish off, we all had sticky toffee pudding with ice cream. The food could not have been better.
Throughout our pre-match wait for the game, servers were always on hand to deliver whatever we asked for. More importantly, they did it with a smile on their face and even engaged with a few jokes about one of our party ordering their steak 'well done'.
What all three of us agreed on was how laid back it was. The dress code was smart and casual, my mate, who is a huge Manchester United fan, donned the 2021/22 blue and away jersey and felt as comfortable as the other gentlemen who had dressed in shirt and tie. You didn't feel out of place.
Before the game started, 1990 FA Cup hero Lee Martin came into the suite and spoke for around 20 minutes about his career. The United fans inside the suite loved him, and he then spent extra time taking pictures with those who asked.
After a disappointing first half of football, we were greeted with our drink of choice at halftime after the servers asked for our orders before kick-off. A delicious cheese board with assorted crackers was also on offer.
Throughout our visit, we interacted with around five staff members, and all five were excellent. Whether they showed us to our seats, engaged in conversation, or offered their services within the suite, the customer service was elite.
Inside Old Trafford, our seat was immaculate. Situated very near the travelling Wolves fans, United didn't really give us much to cheer about. Another bleak afternoon in the Premier League was rounded off with Pablo Sarabia curling a beautiful free-kick.
The highlight of that moment was my brother, jokingly, saying he had received a notification that Wolves had gone 1-0 up through the free-kick. 25 seconds later, they had a number of United fans around us who saw the funny side.
Inside the stadium, it felt like I was at a football match. Sitting with like-minded supporters to enjoy the 11v11 in front of us. Away from the pitch, the experience was something I've never done before and made the day completely worth it.
If you want to experience the hospitality opportunities at Old Trafford before Ineos moves the club to the new 100,000-seater stadium and you can go, give it a go. You'll be surprised by what it's like and you're almost guaranteed to feel like royalty.
Josh attended Man United v Wolves as part of a package with Circuit Hospitality. You can book your unforgettable Premier League VIP experience with one of the trusted names in the business here.
