Refurbished Cheltenham – How Was It?

[Cav]

Never been to Cheltenham, old or new.

Was wondering what anyone who went during the week thought of it post refurb. Granted the place was rammed, but did it feel more or less crowded from a comfort point of view in comparison to previous festivals?

Also was it possible to get a decent view of the racetrack action with a “normal” ticket, without having to take a position 20 minutes before a race?

[cormack15]

Definitely felt more spacious, even on Gold Cup day. It helped to take a position early but you could find a spot relatively near the off. The main plus was the addition of the viewing platform feeding from the new stands around the winner’s enclosure. Made that auditorium even more impressive while taking the strain off the steps adjacent to the enclosure. Thumbs up.

[Fran the man]

Had never been over for Gold cup day before but was pleasantly surprised at the room there was to move around and the only time i met real big crowds and irritatingly slow movement of crowds was when the toilets at the Centaur were shut for a few minutes to get fixed and people had to go elsewhere to use a toilet. Other than that it was brilliant and will be going again (had it in my head before i went that it would be a once off if being as overcrowded as i had heard).

One thing that did irritate me was i couldn’t get over to see the other statue up on the steps overlooking the winners enclosure after seeing Arkle and Dawn run statues. It was about half ten or 11 in the morning and i think they could’ve let me over to look at a statue for 5 minutes without a Club badge Bit elitist i felt

[droffats]

Very good I have to say. Go every year and the new stand as made a huge difference. More space and room to move and I think they allowed a lot more in than ususal.

[BigG]

First time to the course, never mind Gold Cup day, so I don’t have anything to compare to,
but I just can’t fault the course and the management throughout. I had a seat in the Guinness
Stand, and I found that I was a little further from the winning post than I had imagined.
My fears were dispelled after watching the first race, it didn’t in any way spoil my day
and I would happily book the same seat for next year.

I was surprised how easy it was to get about, I had prepared myself to be fighting through
the crowds to get a bet on at the bookie stands, but I needn’t have worried, busy as it was
there was no problem. The staff in the stand and in the hospitality couldn’t have been more
helpful or cheerier.

The only place where I did feel a bit like a sardine, was in the Guinness Village, where throngs
of people had congregated. Moving 20 yards was a bit of an effort, but everyone there was in very
good spirits, fueled by the odd Guinness and the Irish band that were playing. The atmosphere was
worth experiencing but it did cross my mind that it would have been a pick pocket’s paradise.

I’m hooked, and I’ll definitely be making a yearly pilgrimage to the Festival

[KingSprinterSacre]

I think it was a disgrace – they stopped serving the hog roast inside lol

[Author]

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