If you are entertaining guests or clients in London, it can be hard to find something unique and memorable to do. Yet racecourses have it all, from great food to exciting meetings. With some of the best in the world just a short trip away, they are a great choice for a special occasion. Below, we give our top three that your clients will love to experience.
Epsom Downs
The Jockey Club run the Epsom Downs racecourse, so you can expect to have a wide range of top-class facilities on offer. The course offers a range of packages if you decide that you want to entertain clients, or even if you just want a great day out sampling some of the most luxurious hospitality on offer. Its Derby Suite Restaurant has two packages available, both including a three-course meal, race card and access to betting facilities.
A great way to supplement any of these experiences before, and one you may recommend to others, is to use an online provider. This way, you can can bet on horse racing at other courses around the country at the same time. You may even find some prices and odds differ from the one’s trackside. Make sure you work out a bankroll beforehand and deposit it before you visit, so you are ready to make a wager with the minimum of fuss.
If you really want to treat clients, then several private boxes are available. They give you a perfect view over the course and finish line, so you can watch your horse romp home in style.
Kempton Park
Kempton Park is another course a short ride from the capital. It has racing all year round, as well as its famous famous Christmas Festival in December. While the hospitality packages are not as prolific as Epsom, it does offer a more intimate experience with a smaller grandstand.
Their main restaurant is named the Panoramic Bar. Visitors have the choice of a premier or VIP package. Both have a three-course meal, race admission and coffee included as standard, with the latter having further additions such as à la carte dining and a cheese selection.
When entertaining large groups, there are a host of options. The Clubhouse is the smallest, housing up to forty guests. This moves on to the Royal Box for sixty and finally the Desert Orchid Suite, which can fit 180. All have superb views of the winning post.
Ascot
Ascot is the big one, and it’s the venue for some of the year’s most exciting races. For the biggest events, things get booked way in advance, so you need to get your reservations in early. Part of the attraction is that they have a very high standard of fine dining experiences. Michelin-starred chefs such as Raymond Blanc curate their menus and design their foods, so people come for that as well as the racing.
There are three main types of packages. The first is a fine dining experience, ideal for solo visitors and couples. After this, race sponsorship packages are available for major companies. Somewhere in the middle, ideal for most small gatherings lies the private box hire. With a range of parade ring restaurants, you can even have fine food all the way down to the concourse.
