1st – 5th May 2026, DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel Bristol City Centre
The Spring Foursomes
- One of the great events in the English bridge calendar!
DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel, Bristol City Centre, 1st - 5th May 2026
The Spring Foursomes will be held over the Mayday bank holiday weekend.
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE: TBC
Note: Play starts on Friday afternoon at 15:30.
Welcome to the Spring Foursomes!
The Spring Fours is one of the great events in the English calendar. The principal event has become one of the toughest events in domestic bridge played for the Provost Cup. It is run on double-elimination lines over nine sessions each of 32 boards. A secondary event, the Punchbowl, will be open to teams eliminated before Saturday evening. It has a round-robin qualifier followed by a mini knockout. The Hamilton Cup is a more relaxed event for teams seeking a game on Monday (bank holiday in England).
This year the Spring Foursomes returns to the DoubleTree by Hilton Bristol. This popular venue sits in the heart of Bristol city centre and within walking distance of the train station, shops and restaurants. Bristol also has its own airport if you are travelling from further afield.
From 2025, in memory of Jeffrey Allerton, who was a regular participant (and winner in 2015 and 2022) before he died in 2024, there will be some extra prizes aimed at less experienced teams, caddies and free tea and coffee throughout. There will also be four different sets of boards, so you will never be playing the same boards as any adjacent table, to help reduce the likelihood of overhearing things from nearby tables.
It is part of the WBF World Tour.
To enter
By entering an EBU congress or event you agree to abide by the terms and conditions set out in the Terms and Conditions document.
The easiest way to enter is online through My EBU. Log-in and select 'Book Events' from the Utilities menu. You can also call 01296 317203 or email comps@ebu.co.uk. Late entries will only be accepted if they assist the schedule and entries may be paused at a convenient number (eg 48 teams) until there are sufficient further entries.
If you will be late arriving to the venue, please call 07780673522. Please do not send a text message as this will not be forwarded.
Full payment must be made at the time of entering. Those who play in an event without having entered and paid beforehand will be subject to an additional financial penalty of £20.
Holders
2025
Provost Cup: Grainne Barton (NPC), Conor Boland, John Carroll, Nick FitzGibbon, Tom Hanlon, Adam Mesbur & Mark Moran
Punchbowl: Alon Birman, Ron Pachtman, Dror Padon, Lynton Stock & Piotr Zatorski
Hamilton Cup: David Gold, Andrew Black, Andrew McIntosh, Tom Paske, Simon Hult & Peter Bertheau
| Day | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| FRI 1 | 15:30 - 20:00 | SESSION 1 (32-board matches or initial round-robins or triangles) | |
| SAT 2 - MON 4 | 10:00 - 14:30 | 15:30 - 20:00 | SESSIONS 2-7 (32-board matches) |
| MON 4 | 10:00 - 14:30 | 15:30 - 20:00 | PUNCHBOWL |
| 11:00 - 13:10 | 14:00 - 18:20 | HAMILTON CUP (Swiss Teams) | |
| TUE 5 | 10:00 - 15:00 | 16:00 - 21:00 | PROVOST SEMI-FINAL & FINAL |
| Event | Price (per team) |
|---|---|
| Full Event | £840 |
| Hamilton Cup only | £152 |
Master Points
All events are fully Green Pointed. Awards in the main event reflect its prestigious nature.
Agreements
Level 5 agreements are permitted in all events.
Venue and Tariff
Accommodation can be booked through our partners First for Bridge
The venue for 2026 will be the Doubletree by Hilton Bristol City Centre
The DoubleTree by Hilton boasts an enviable location in the heart of the city, close to the historic and most artistic harbourside. Enjoy easy access to shops at Cabot Circus, a wide range of restaurants, and the fantastic attractions that this maritime city has to offer. Bristol has recently been voted one of the UK’s most walkable cities, and the hotel's superb location allows guests to follow the Banksy Art Trail or explore the many nearby attractions which include the contemporary harbourside art gallery, the Arnolfini, the SS Great Britain and Clifton Suspension Bridge. Temple Meads train station is a 5-minute walk away, and there is a regular bus to Bristol airport that stops nearby. Parking is available and players will be able to benefit from special rates of £12 per car overnight payable directly to the hotel.
Why play?
It is the strongest teams event In the EBU calendar that is open to all! Spanning four days (with a fifth for the top four teams), you get a lot of bridge for your money and a great experience to boot. It regularly attracts players from across the world, especially Scandinavia, and the atmosphere is great. Everyone gets at least two sessions in the main event and for those who have an unfortunate first two matches, there are interesting side events to keep you going for the whole four days if you wish.
With the new schedule introduced this year, you have every evening off to explore Bristol and may well bump into other bridge players in restaurants and cafes!
I don't have any team mates!
If you are looking for a partner or team mates for this competition, please use the Partnership forum
Previous Winners
2025 results; 2025 entry list
2024 results; 2024 entry list
2023 results; 2023 entry list
2022 results; 2022 entry list
2021 results; 2021 entry list
Did not take place in 2020 due to Covid-19
2019 results; 2019 entry list
2018 results; 2018 entry list
2017 results; 2017 entry list
2016 results; 2016 entry list
2015 results; 2015 entry list
2014 results; 2014 entry list
2013 results; 2013 entry list
2012 results; 2012 entry list
2011 results; 2011 entry list
2010 results; 2010 entry list
2009 results; 2009 entry list
2008 results; 2008 entry list
2007 results; 2007 entry list
2006 results; 2006 entry list
Spring Foursomes - the history
Find a partner/team mates
If you are looking for a partner or team mates for this congress, please email comps@ebu.co.uk