As if dominating the sports arenas wasn't enough, several sporting legends are expanding their brand to the restaurant and hotel world...

Cromlix

Tennis star, Andy Murray, returned to his Scottish roots to open Cromlix, close to his hometown of Dunblane in Perthshire. The Wimbledon champion has transformed an elegant Victorian mansion into a luxury, 15-bedroom hotel situated in 34 acres of beautiful woodlands and landscaped grounds. The hotel boasts a Chez Roux restaurant overseen by Albert Roux (of Le Gavroche fame), which focuses on using seasonal locally sourced produce wherever possible - housed in a glass-walled conservatory overlooking the grounds. 

Eqvita 

Fellow world champion player, Novak Djokovic, is an accomplished restaurateur with his vegan Eqvita restaurant in Monte Carlo, which opened in 2016 and serves up healthy, nature-centric cuisine. The menu is made up of "fresh, plant-based, vegan cuisine” of which the majority is gluten free (due to Djokovic's own diet) and is already a smashing success. This also marks something of a homecoming for Djokovic, whose parents owned restaurants while he was growing up in Serbia. You can also expect organic, immune-boosting smoothies, wines and cold pressed juices. And it just so happens, that Andy Murray has already visited the restaurant during last year's Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. 

Sumosan Twiga

Former F1 boss, Flavio Briatore (Twiga) and Janina Wolkow (Sumosan), have collaborated on 'Twiga Sumosan' in Monaco (pictured), 'Sumosan Twiga' in the Billionaire Mansion at the Taj Dubai and more recently an outpost in London's Knightsbridge. The stunningly designed restaurant offers up Sumosan's renowned contemporary Japanese menu, alongside quintessential Italian cuisine. Expect everything from high-end sushi and sashimi to sea bass spaghetti, Dover sole and veal Milanese. The four-storey property, which has also housed Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay in various incarnations, features a sparkly 'late night lounge' in the basement and a spacious and stylish top-floor bar. 

The Rabbit in the Moon

Great British Menu and Michelin-starred chef, Micheal O'Hare (of Man Behind the Curtain, Leeds, fame), has teamed up with former Manchester United footballers, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, to open The Rabbit in the Moon restaurant (one of three they are planning together), in the National Football Museum in Manchester. Expect an ambitious, 17-course tasting menu offering 'space-age Asian food' alongside cocktails created by Matt Whiley, owner of drinks company, Fantastic Mr Fox. The partnership with the National Football Museum also sees the launch of a new Cafe Football, similar to the Cafe Football that that the footballers already run in Stratford, London alongside the 133-bedroom Hotel Football - adjacent to Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium.  

Pestana CR7

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Real Madrid star, has collaborated with Portuguese hotel group Pestana, to open four new boutique (football-themed) hotels with the first installment in his hometown of Funchal in Madeira. Others are opening in Lisbon, Madrid and New York City. Pestana CR7 takes its name from Cristiano Ronaldo's initials and football shirt number and comes complete with plenty of sports memorabilia on display with Ronaldo's shirts, trophies and trainers dotted around the hotel. There is also a rooftop infinity pool, an open-air gym and you can take a bath in a room designed to look like a football field. Also, a lounge and sports bar, where Ronaldo's favourite quote: "To be the best, you need the best," is illuminated on the wall, where you can order some "fancy smart food" and "mixologist-approved drinks". 

Ideal For

Game on, game set & match