‘We flew to Benidorm to watch Cheltenham in the sunshine – but the weather’s better at home’
It may be 2,300 miles away, but more and more people are choosing Cheltenham during festival week over Benidorm, where cheap drinks and hotels abound.
However, sun lovers who come to the Mediterranean coastline for the festival week this year have a problem: Weather conditions.
In Benidorm, Prestbury Park was basking in the warm winter sunshine while rain forced T-shirt-wearing racing fans into many of the strip’s bars.
Giant outdoor screens remain rolled up and uncovered outdoor seating is nearly empty.
Daniel Sewell, who is in the popular holiday resort from Monday to Thursday, said: “We came to watch Cheltenham in the sun with cheap beer and hotels – but we could be in Cheltenham in the rain.”
Having attended the festival several times – most recently in 2018 – the 35-year-old from Warrington booked a week’s holiday as a hen party with friends.
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The group of 14 filled a flat and paid a total of £800, while the return flight cost them £130. They were sharing a bucket of five €10 bottles of beer in the Ibrox Bar on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, at Cheltenham, tickets start at £70 on the door and a pint costs £7.50, although the price has dropped this year.
“I couldn’t have gotten any drunker if I tried last night and I still only spent £50,” Mr Sewell said. However, although the prices are affordable for entertainment enthusiasts, the weather has not yet fully met expectations.
Mr Sewell said: “We first got the idea from photos on social media of people watching Cheltenham in large outdoor seating areas, watching big screens in the sun.
“The weather hasn’t been great so far this year but the atmosphere is still very good. I think for some people who aren’t that interested in racing it’s a great way to watch the racing.”
For those attending the Cheltenham Festival all week and spending the night in the area, the savings of watching races abroad are even greater.
Ronnie Russell, from Hull, who attends the festival every year, is in Benidorm this week, having paid £500 for a five-night full-board stay at the four-star Hotel Rosamar.
This year, in its third festival in the Spanish resort, people are swapping the Cheltenham roar for the “Benidorm wail” at the first race.
“Three years ago it was sunny,” said the 67-year-old man. “The weather was bad last year and so far this year but I’d still rather be here than stuck in the Cheltenham car park and covered in mud.
“We love the €2 pints – but prices go up quickly and it’s so popular here due to festival week that you have to book in advance. The experience is still great.”
According to travel retailer On the Beach, bookings in Benidorm during the festival increased by 65 percent compared to last year, with hotels more than doubling the number of reservations.
Wilma Wallace, from Ibrox Bar, said: “It started about eight years ago and has grown every year. We hope for better weather on Thursday and Friday.”
Attendance at Cheltenham is declining. Last year’s overall attendance was 218,839, down 5 percent from 2024. However, attendance increased on this year’s opening day.
This followed changes such as a 30p cut on the price of draft beer or cider and a relaxation of outdoor drinking areas. Women’s Day also returned on Wednesday after a five-year hiatus.
Racecourse chairman Guy Lavender told the BBC: “It’s great to see so many people wanting to attend and celebrate the event.
“Whether fans are watching from the comfort of their own homes while on holiday in Benidorm or experiencing the unrivaled atmosphere on the pitch, we want them to feel part of it and we’re proud that these four days in March mark a major mark on people’s calendars every year.”
