Date

14/03/2024

Location

Cheltenham Racecourse

Cheltenham Festival – Day Three Hospitality Packages, VIP Tickets & Events

Traditionally known as St Patricks day at the Festival, Thursday is one of the biggest celebrations at Cheltenham. The Ryanair Chase and Paddy Powers Stayers Hurdle give you two ‘feature’ races in another excellent seven race card. Premium hospitality and tickets available for Cheltenham Festival.

Choose your Package​

Platinum Suite

Hospitality Package
Contact us for availability & pricing
  • Located in Official Hospitality Village, in the heart of the festival, with easy access to all facilities
  • Cheltenham Festival VIP tickets & access to the Official Hospitality Village with reserved seating in the Platinum Suite throughout the day
  • Club Enclosure admission badge for access to Viewing Steps & Members’ Lawn
  • Welcome Champagne reception and complimentary bar including beers, fine wines and premium spirits throughout the day
  • Four course lunch served inside the Platinum Suite
  • Traditional afternoon tea
  • HDTV screens and Tote betting inside the Platinum Suite
  • Official Race Card & Racing Post

Gold Cup Restaurant

Hospitality Package
Contact us for availability & pricing
  • Located close to the Hall of Fame, with easy access to main viewing Grandstand and Parade Ring
  • Cheltenham Festival hospitality tickets providing access to the Gold Cup Restaurant and Club Enclosure admission badge for access to the Viewing Steps and the Members’ Lawn
  • Grande Marque Champagne reception and complimentary bar including fine Burgundy and Bordeaux wines, draught beers and premium spirits
  • Contemporary Chef’s table lunch served inside the Gold Cup Restaurant
  • Traditional afternoon tea
  • Racing celebrity tipster for expert analysis and betting advice
  • Plasma screens showing the racing action inside the Gold Cup Restaurant, along with Tote betting facilities
  • Official Cheltenham Festival Race Card

Chez Roux Restaurant

Hospitality Package
Contact us for availability & pricing
  • Fine dining experience on 3rd floor of Chez Roux boxes with viewing balcony with views over the Racecourse
  • Cheltenham Festival hospitality tickets providing access to the Chez Roux Restaurant and whole course
  • Moet Champagne reception and Canapes on arrival
  • Exquisite four course menu
  • Afternoon tea
  • Complimentary Michel Roux Jnr Recommended wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks (excludes Champagne)
  • TV racing coverage and betting service in the Box
  • Official Cheltenham Festival Race Card

Enquire Now

Contact us today to enquire about our hospitality packages and VIP tickets.

CF-Horse Racing

FAQs

We answer some of your questions about Cheltenham Festival

Taking place around the same dates every March, Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of the jump race calendar. With 7 races a day spread across 4 days, the 2023 Festival will run from Tuesday 14th March to Friday 17th March.

General admission tickets for The Festival are sold by the Jockey Club, owners of Cheltenham Racecourse. You can purchase these here These tend to sell out for every day, so best to act quickly. At Events Hospitality, we offer hospitality packages for every day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Each day at The Festival is similar but different. There are many factors to deciding which day to attend, so we have put together a handy guide at the bottom of the page to help you decide.

At Events Hospitality, we have hospitality packages options available for all of the dates at Cheltenham Festival. As standard, we offer our Platinum Hospitality Suite, situated in the heart of the Festival with great access to all of the facilities. We do also offer other packages, so if you have a specific requirement in mind (Private Box, view of the racecourse etc) then please contact us on [email protected] and we would be happy to help.

At Events Hospitality, we only sell hospitality packages and VIP experiences for the Cheltenham Festival. We have official hospitality packages for each day of The Festival, in our Platinum Hospitality Suite. We do have other options available, so please email us for specific requests.

Any hospitality packages or tickets for Cheltenham Festival will get you access from doors opening, which is from 10:30am each day. The benefit of your hospitality package is food and drink served from your arrival, but just be careful as it can be a long day! Racing starts at 1:30pm and finishes around 5:30pm, with hospitality continuing for an hour afterwards.

Some hospitality packages have views of the Racecourse, some don’t, so make sure you check on purchasing. All hospitality packages give you full access to the racecourse facilities, including the Club enclosure Grandstand for watching the racing, as well as all other locations such as viewing the Paddock, the Guinness Village and shopping area. Each facility will also have its own TV viewing.

We have an allocation of hospitality for each day at The Festival but these are always in high demand. If you know which day you would like to attend, we recommend booking early, but there are lots of different hospitality areas you can use. Please note, we don’t offer general admission tickets for the Cheltenham Festival.

This depends on each day, with prices listed on the packages on our website. If you can’t find these or need more information, please just email us on [email protected] Please remember we only have hospitality packages for this event.

At Events Hospitality we only offer premium tickets and official hospitality packages. We also only sell tickets or packages that we have in hand, to ensure availability for our clients (many companies out there will sell the tickets and then attempt to procure them afterwards to fulfil the order).

We know how stressful it can be trying to work out which companies are genuine, especially when there are so many out there. As one of the newer ones, we also know how much harder we have to work to prove ourselves. That’s why we offer a 100% money back guarantee if we don’t deliver your tickets. To ensure you’re dealing with a reputable company please call us on 0208 053 0278 to ask any questions, or view more information about us here.

Wherever you are buying your tickets from, make sure you do your research. Take a look at online reviews, ask to speak to previous customers or verify with the venue that the company you are using are official hospitality agents.

Gates open at 10:30am and the first race is at 1:30pm each day. The ‘Championship’ Race is usually in the middle and racing finishes at 5:30pm, with hospitality continuing for an hour afterwards.

Yes, all tickets give you full access for the entirety of the day, from the start to the end of play. You also get access to your hospitality suite for the same period. You are not allowed to leave the racecourse and come back on the same ticket.

Handbags and backpacks (of an appropriate size for a day out) will be allowed into the enclosures. Large bags such as suitcases, holdalls, and larger rucksacks will not be granted entry and racegoers will be asked leave this at ‘Left Luggage’ before entering.

If you’re big time, via Helicopter! For everyone else, you can get their by train or car. Cheltenham Spa is the nearest train station and runs regular journeys from Bristol and London, among other places. The Racecourse is about a 50 minute walk from the station, but on Festival days they put on regular bus journeys. Just keep in mind that traffic is heavy, so ensure you leave plenty of time for these journeys (the trains get very busy as well)

There are various parking places around the racecourse, either official car parks that can be booked direct with the racecourse or informal options. Again, just consider that there is lots of traffic in and out of both the town and the racecourse, so factor in delays.

These will be sent to you around 7-10 days before the Festival starts. They will usually be postal tickets, including an entry badge for your hospitality suite.

As the home of jump racing, Cheltenham is one of the most popular racecourse in the UK. It regularly undergoes improvement and renovation and has a huge array of facilities, particularly for hospitality. This means there are plenty of options to choose from, which can sometimes be confusing. We showcase our Platinum Hospitality on our website but can offer a variety of other options if you would something different. Please just email us on [email protected] and we can talk you through the options.

For each hospitality package you have a dedicated table or area in a specific hospitality lounge. This is your base for the day and for you to come and go from as you please. Some hospitality lounges have a viewing balcony, others will give you access to the Club Enclosure Grandstand to get the best view of the racing.

There is no specific dress code for general admission but hospitality areas are smart casual. This means no ripped jeans or fancy dress. Part of the fun of the festival is getting dressed up in your finest attire, particularly on Ladies Day.

Any children 4 or under do not need a ticket for general admission, but may require one for a hospitality area, so please check this first. All children 5 and upwards need a ticket.

Yes, there are plenty of these! The Racecourse bookies will operate on the rails and there will be Tote betting outlets in all hospitality areas. You also have access to select bookmakers via the course wi-fi.

Yes there are permanent cash points in The Centaur entrance, in the Best Mate Enclosure and in the Hall of Fame, with temporary ones added for The Festival.

Unlike many other venues, there are locations to smoke at Cheltenham. It is allowed in the outdoor areas of the grounds, but not on the Grandstand or viewing areas.

Unlike many other venues, there are locations to smoke at Cheltenham. It is allowed in the outdoor areas of the grounds, but not on the Grandstand or viewing areas.

Course Maps

for Cheltenham Festival

Venue Address

Cheltenham Racecourse

Evesham Rd, Cheltenham GL50 4SH

Guides

for Cheltenham

A Guide to Hospitality at Cheltenham Racecourse

The hospitality package options at Cheltenham Racecourse are vast. From private box packages to world class restaurant facilities, there is so much choice for racegoers that want to relax with friends, host a party or entertain customers and clients for a day at the races – especially the world-renowned Cheltenham Festival.

Which hospitality packages are best for you? Well, that depends on many factors. To help you make a decision, let us walk you through the various options so that you can make the best decision for you and your guests.

Restaurant Hospitality Packages

There are 5 different restaurants at Cheltenham Racecourse, all offering something slightly different. All of these restaurants are available for the Cheltenham Festival, as well as other race days. Let’s take a look at each one individually:

Champion’s WalkCheltenham - Champions Walk

Located opposite the horsewalk, between the course and The Paddock, the Champion’s Walk offers you incredible views of the horses as they make their way onto the course from the Parade Ring.

You’ll find a relaxed atmosphere here, with the food served as grazing and bowl food, inspired by beautiful Cotswolds flavours, and with superb views of the horses as they prepare for a race.

Hospitality packages in the Champion’s Walk include:

  • Coffee and biscuits in the morning
  • Champagné on arrival
  • Charcuterie
  • Four course taster menu
  • Desserts and Cheese
  • Afternoon Tea
  • Complimentary bar serving house wines, beer, soft drinks and spirits (not including Champagne)


Perfect for: Great views of the horses in The Paddock and great, local food

Horseshoe PavillionCheltenham - Horseshoe Pavilion

A more traditional option is the Horseshoe Pavillion, situated right in the heart of The Village – in the Club and tattersalls enclosure of the course. This is a popular package for people that are hosting customers or clients.

A mainstay of the racecourse for many years, the Horseshoe Pavillion offers a great base for a day at the races with a hearty lunch. Included in this hospitality package is:

  • Four course à la carte lunch
  • Afternoon Tea
  • Complementary bar serving fine quality wines, beer, spirits and soft drinks


Perfect for: A more traditional experience – a good lunch to accompany good racing

Gold Cup and Festival RestaurantsCheltenham Gold cup restaurant

A great option for a good value day out with the family are the Gold Cup and Festival Restaurants, situated near the Cheltenham Racecourse Hall of fame and with easy access to the main grandstand.

There are two separate restaurants here, each offering a three course meal showcasing the chefs’ creativity and innovation. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and enjoy lunch at your own pace. Included in this package:

  • Grande Marque Champagné reception
  • Club Enclosure admission badge for access to the Viewing Steps and the Members’ Lawn
  • Three course Chef’s table lunch
  • Afternoon Tea
  • Complementary bar serving fine quality wines, beer, spirits and soft drinks
  • Plasma screens showing the races

If you are interested in this fantastic hospitality package, contact us here to find out more and book your day at the races.

Perfect for: Using as a base for the day – have a great meal and then go out and explore!

National Hunt RestaurantCheltenham - National Hunt restaurant

This course-facing restaurant facility is located in the main grandstand, and is only available for selected race days, such as the Cheltenham Festival. It is a highly exclusive enclosure that offers fantastic views of the course and the Parade Ring.

You can watch all the races from the comfort of the restaurant, or retire to the balcony to take in that famous Cheltenham Racecourse atmosphere. Also included is:

  • Champagné on arrival
  • Tea and Coffee
  • Four course set menu
  • Reserved seating
  • Afternoon Tea
  • Hospitality team on hand all day


Perfect for: A private setting combined with stunning views of the course

Panoramic RestaurantCheltenham - Panoramic Restaurant

The premium restaurant at Cheltenham Racecourse. The views from the Panoramic Restaurant are unparalleled – overlooking the winning post from the fifth floor of the grandstand.

This is Cheltenham’s most popular restaurant package, so it often sells out early. The view is stunning and the food is delicious.

  • Morning Coffee & Breakfast Rolls
  • 5-Course à la Carte Lunch
  • Afternoon Tea


Perfect for: Breathtaking views of the course – follow every second of the action

Suite & Private Box Packages

Private boxes at Cheltenham Racecourse can offer the perfect setting for hosting customers and clients, or just for a day at the races to remember with friends and family. The main option for you to consider is the Chez Roux Restaurant Package:

Chez Roux Restaurant Hospitality PackageChez Rou Package

If you are really looking for a stand-out Cheltenham Racecourse experience, the Chez Roux Restaurant Package may be the way to go. Located on the third floor, the Chez Rouz Private Box packages provide you with a fantastic viewing balcony overlooking the racecourse. You will be greeted with Moet Champagné and Canapes on arrival, and will have access to the entire racecourse.

The real pièce de résistance however is the food. Hosted by world-renowned, Michelin star chef Michel Roux Jr., along with his daughter Emily, you will experience some exquisite food and award-winning dishes, whilst enjoying some of the most eagerly anticipated meetings of the jump racing season. All boxes are for a minimum of 10 guests.

  • Moët Champagné and Canapes on arrival
  • Complimentary Michel Roux Jnr Recommended wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks
  • Exquisite four course menu
  • Exclusive box
  • Afternoon tea
  • TV and betting service within your box
  • Hospitality team on hand all day


Perfect for: Wowing clients with a spectacular raceday – an experience they will never forget!

Cheltenham also offers a range of other Private Boxes, with varying views and levels of hospitality. The Cleeve View Boxes offer a fantastic view over the course and are the closest to the finish line, with a great viewing height from the second floor of the main stand. You can also enjoy boxes at the Final Fence, to view the last jump of every race and suites with a view of the Parade Ring, being the first to see the horses as they come out and of course return to celebrate in the Winners Enclosure.

If you are interested in any of these fantastic hospitality packages, contact us here to find out more and book your day at the races.

Additional Hospitality during the Cheltenham Festival

The Cheltenham Festival, in March every year, is without doubt one of the highlights on the racing calendar. It is so popular that they add additional hospitality options around the course so that more people can witness the pinnacle of jump racing in luxury. Packages like the Long Run Boxes, Final Fence Boxes and Parade Ring Viewing Boxes all pop up around Festival time. In our opinion, the pick of these options is the Platinum Suite.

Platinum Suite Hospitality PackageCheltenham - Platinum Suite

Another package that is located in The Village, right at the heart of the racecourse, the Platinum Suite has easy access to all facilities. You will be given reserved seats for the entire day, with a Club Enclosure admission badge with which you can access the Viewing Steps and the Members’ Lawn – and even a visit from legendary racing tipsters to advise you on your bets!

That’s not all – a delicious four course lunch will be served, as well as afternoon tea and a complimentary bar is available throughout the day. It’s a great way to experience the Cheltenham Festival, in particular, with your hospitality guests.

With easy access to the grandstand and all of the onsite facilities, you’ll get the best of both worlds – experiencing incredible food and drink, whilst also being right at the heart of the action in the middle of that unmistakable Festival atmosphere.

  • Champagné on arrival
  • Complementary bar serving fine quality wines, beer, spirits and soft drinks
  • Car Park Pass (1 per 2 guests)
  • Four course lunch
  • Reserved seating
  • Club Enclosure Admission
  • Morning Coffee and Pastries
  • Afternoon Tea
  • Hospitality team on hand all day
  • HDTV screens and Tote betting inside the Platinum Suite

If you are interested in this fantastic hospitality package, contact us here to find out more and book your day at the races.

Perfect for: The most complete Festival experience – the luxury and the atmosphere rolled into one – the best way to experience The Greatest Show on Turf.

When can you watch racing at Cheltenham?

If you are interested in watching racing at Cheltenham racecourse, there are many options throughout the jump racing season. Obviously the main event is the Cheltenham Festival, which takes place in March. This is the most prestigious meeting in the jump racing season, and as such it gets incredibly busy and demand is high. We would advise booking early if you want to attend the Cheltenham Festival.

Dates for the 2022/2023 season:

The Showcase: 21st-22nd October

The November Meeting: 11th-13th November

The International: 9-10th December

New Year’s Day Racing: 1st January

Festival Trials Day: 28th January

The Festival:

The April Meeting: 19th-20 April

Race Night: 5th May

The availability of packages can vary from meeting to meeting, so if any of these interest you, please get in touch with us and we can help you to plan the complete day out for you and your guests.

Cheltenham Racecourse Guide

Introduction

Everybody loves Cheltenham (especially if you’re Irish). A spiritual place for many, Cheltenham Racecourse is synonymous with The Cheltenham Festival, the pinnacle of the jump racing season taking place over 4 special days in March. Over a quarter of a million people flock to the Cotswolds track, drinking nearly 300,000 pints of Guinness and bringing an estimated £100,000,000 to the local economy. As an occasion, its impossible to overstate its importance, so while the Racecourse does host another 12 (usually excellent) fixtures, it’s the ‘greatest show on Turf’ that this guide will largely focus on.

A brief history

Racing first took place in Cheltenham in 1815, for many years a flat meeting. The Prestbury Park location of Cheltenham Racecourse came to be in 1831 but it was not until 1902 that the first National Hunt Festival was ran. The Gold Cup was added in 1927 and its popularity has grown ever since. Originally a 2 then 3 day Festival, a 4th day was added in 2005 to make it the behemoth it is today.

Want to make sure you know the lingo? Jump racing is known as National Hunt Racing and incorporates hurdles, which are smaller jumps and fences, also referred to as Steeplechases.

Cheltenham Guide - History

Quick Facts

The Cheltenham Festival is a dizzying array of facts and figures – 28 races across 4 days, £4.5million in prize money, an average attendance of 65,000 people each day, the aforementioned pints of Guinness and nearly £2.5million taken out in cash at the course (90% of it lost at the bookies?) In fact, over £600million is bet on races at Cheltenham Festival across the country each year.

Its so ingrained in the national psyche that it marched on through the covid pandemic in 2020 (don’t mention super spreader), although in 2001 it was stopped in its tracks by Foot and Mouth.

Why go?

It’s a brilliant day out (or 4 if you’ve got it in you). Whether you’re a seasoned veteran who spends every day in the Guinness Village or a first timer, there is something for everyone at Cheltenham. It’s a beautiful setting, you’ll see top class horse racing every day and while the ‘Craic’ is a bit of a cliché, its also an awful lot of fun.  

Cheltenham Guide - facilities

What are the facilities like?

Cheltenham is a big old place and the variety is extensive. On a standard day at Cheltenham you’ll have the luxury of perusing the Racecourse and taking it all in, at the Festival it’s a different matter. With crowds everywhere, the novices can see half their day wiped out queuing for a beer and if you’re dead set on watching the racing you won’t be able to leave your spot in the Grandstand. Instead, its about learning to go with the flow and just enjoying the day, whether its in one of the many bars, perusing the shopping village or alternating between the Paddock and the course.

The food at Cheltenham (and racecourses in general) has stepped up a notch over the last few years and you won’t be short of ‘street food’ options. If you want a more formal dining experience, you’ll need to prebook a hospitality package at Cheltenham Festival.

Are the premium tickets, VIP and Hospitality options?

With around 40,000 hospitality guests over the 4 days, there is a huge variety of options and choosing the right one can be harder than picking a winner on the day. There are over 10 restaurants, 200 plus boxes and several more pop-up facilities, all with different benefits.

Hospitality lends itself really well to horse racing as you’re there all day, with plenty of action but also downtime to make the most of the VIP service. There is no place better than this for Cheltenham and whichever option you choose, you won’t be disappointed. For more information on various packages at the Festival (and more), just take a look at our Hospitality Guide in the other tab.

Cheltenham Guide - VIP facilities
Cheltenham Guide - how to get there

How to get to the Cheltenham Festival?

If you’re a baller, then by Helicopter. For almost everyone else, it takes a bit of planning. The town is served by Cheltenham Spa Train Station, which the majority of people pass through to get to the Racecourse (135,000 over the 4 days of the festival, in fact). The journey from London is easy enough (Paddington) but it is packed from around 8am onwards. Book your train as early as possible, for both the seat and to avoid the prohibitive last minute prices.

The train station is 2.5 miles from Prestbury Park, which in normal times takes about 10 minutes by car. You can multiply that by at least 3 at The Festival, whether your travelling by taxi or the shuttle buses they put on. It’s a pleasant 40 minute walk there, which becomes either annoying or entertaining on the way back, largely dependant on how many winners you’ve had (with the same logic applied to the busy train back).

There are loads of parking options at the Racecourse, some closer than others, but as with any big event, you can expect queues in and out of the car park. You need to leave plenty of time to get there in the morning and its recommended to wait it out after the final race, enjoy the carnage of the Guinness village and leave a little bit later, rather than be stuck in another queue.

What is the area around Cheltenham Racecourse like?

You won’t get a much nicer setting than Cheltenham Racecourse and Cheltenham itself is lovely. Its buzzing during the Festival, when its probably not seen at is best, so is worth a visit at any other time of the year. If you’re staying for a few days then you need to book accommodation early (and be prepared to stay a few miles out), as well as making sure you have reservations at restaurants or bars.

Cheltenham Guide - Area

How can I get tickets to Cheltenham Festival?

For any fixtures at Cheltenham Racecourse, you can buy directly through their website here. As they only usually sell out for the Festival, there is no point in buying anywhere else.

For Hospitality packages at the Cheltenham Festival, you have a few options. You can buy through the Cheltenham Racecourse website, which has some of the packages available. They also have a variety of Official Agents, of which Events Hospitality are one. Whatever you choose, we would recommend speaking to someone first, to decide which package suits you best (unless you’re a seasoned veteran who knows what you want). Call us on 0208 053 0278 and we can take you through the options.

Tickets for Cheltenham are still usually paper tickets, with a badge included for the relevant area that you purchase.

Best event?

What do you think? It can’t be anything but the Festival. Gold Cup Day is the showpiece and most popular, but we love the Tuesday (Champion Hurdle) and Wednesday (Champion Chase). And to be fair the Thursday (The Ryanair and St Patricks Day).

Most niche event?

The Racing is pretty mainstream (and the Cheltenham patrons would be appalled to any innovations diluting this) but with a large indoor space, Cheltenham hosts several concerts, gigs and conferences throughout the year. ‘Paw Patrol Live’ seems pretty niche.

Cost?

Ranges for just £8 for entry to the basic enclosures for the quieter race meetings, to several thousand pounds for Private Boxes on Gold Cup Day.

Type of events

Horse Racing

Top Tip

The Fish and Chip shop outside Cheltenham Spa Train Station was world class, but we are hearing rumours its closed now. So our big tip would be if you’re travelling home on the train, make sure you buy plenty of alcohol before you get on as its often sold out onboard. There is a Tesco nearby, but this can sometime sell out too, so come prepared!

If you have any questions or would like to understand the best options for tickets at the O2, please contact us and we would be happy to help.