A tale of two Cheltenhams: Cheaper pints and Prosecco aplenty – but more ticketed hospitality areas
Sipping a glass of premium Pauillac wine, which sells for £355 a bottle, Phil Wynn knows he has one of the best views of the Cheltenham Festival.
While the masses bear the brunt of rain and wind 30 meters below, the company director relaxes in the panoramic restaurant, where waiters serve up gin- and maple-cured trout and a rack of Cotswolds lamb, among the menu items.
Protected by transparent windows, diners in the distance can see figures huddled together in the windy booth of the festival’s cheapest tickets: Best Mate Enclose.
There, jeans-wearing revelers stand in front of burger vans and beer shacks as loud music blares from a DJ set.
Opposite areas may be a stone’s throw away from each other, but the price difference couldn’t be greater.
This year, organizers have reduced the early bird fee for the Best Mate Enclosure to £35, below 2024 prices. The price of a pint of Guinness has also fallen by 30p.
“It’s a great laugh, an opportunity to get together with all the lads and have some fun,” said Mr Wynn, who has been paying £1,200 per person for a table at the restaurant since his company, Zenith Ltd, redeveloped the nearby five-star Ellenborough Park hotel 15 years ago.
His contract manager, Nick Malpus, sitting at the end of the table, said “the hairs on his back stood up” when he walked through the glass door of the bleachers on the fifth floor of the restaurant.
“As a kid from the wrong side of the tracks, this is incredible,” he said. “I was on that side [Best Mate Enclosure]”I was in the forest, it’s much more comfortable here.”
On the upper floors of the tribune, there are special boxes with the family or company name written on a plaque fixed to the door of each one.
And while that kind of luxury may not be felt at the racetrack, those who attend can cash in on other accommodation packages at at least seven restaurants.
This year the festival also opened a ticketed Race Lounge, where people pay extra for seating “away from the hustle and bustle of the race day crowds.”
Those having fun inside receive free tea and coffee, waiter service and have the opportunity to take photos with the Gold Cup.
Paul Wright, who was with his son Harry, said the offer was a clear sign of the class system at the festival. “Those who have money can spend more to get more, it’s that simple,” he said.
Next door, new this year, is the Retreat, open to all; Here people play games like darts for prizes, self-serve beers are poured, and a band plays on stage.
Footballer Peter Crouch appeared nearby and handed out 1,000 pints after losing a bet with a well-known betting company. The echo of football chants follows.
Nedina Middleton-Hall and Jo Morgan enjoy a bottle of Prosecco in a frosted plastic bag, priced at £46. This drink is offered for the first time at the festival, as the organizers want to appeal to every taste.
The Best Man Enclosure is accessed by exiting the venue from the tribune area. It’s a different vibe, with the familiar tweed jacket and hat uniforms giving way to cheaper suits, trainers and jeans.
“We used to go there [the grandstand area] It’s always so boring,” said Darren Price, 50, who wears a polo shirt and jeans. “Everyone thinks they’re special. They think they have money, but most of them don’t. They all earn £25k a year. Very funny. “I prefer this place to this side.”
As the rain fell, the colorful benches in the indoor area became empty, while the packed tent areas resembled a wedding atmosphere where music, dancing and drinks flowed freely.
Meanwhile, an orderly line of security guards, including police officers, marched towards the drug search area outside the gate.
“There’s a great atmosphere here,” said the friend of a man being taken away. “I hope he comes back; he took my earnings.”
