My school memories consist of missing homework deadlines and sitting in detention, not an experience I would be willing to re-live in a hurry. Nestled in the beautiful West Berkshire countryside, however, sits an entirely different kind of school, where report cards are replaced with score cards and the teachers encourage you to break things. Founder Dylan Williams and his team first opened the shooting school in 1991, with the aim of providing expert tuition to all. His groundbreaking approach to the sport of simulated game shooting led to Royal Berkshire becoming a favourite of both clay and game shooters alike.
Guests at Royal Berkshire can enjoy a hearty breakfast in the clubhouse
In 2018 James Purdey & Sons Ltd jumped at the chance to own this one of a kind shooting venue. “Evolution not revolution has been the philosophy since Purdey took over,” says Jonathan Irby, who now serves as managing director at the shooting school, having moved across to The Royal Berkshire last August from his role as head of gun sales at Purdey’s.