Experience a Fantastic Day at the Races in Chester

Choose Chester races for an unforgettable day out with a difference with friends or family.

Its iconic status means that Chester Racecourse is as popular with curious first-time race goers as seasoned racing fans. In use as a racecourse since the 16th century, this racecourse is the oldest of its kind in England and is fondly nicknamed the Roodee thanks to its location on the River Dee. It may be old but this hugely popular venue for horseracing, partying, polo and much more has recently been treated to a £2 million refurbishment, so now is a great time to visit to enjoy its fresh and modern new look. Chester Racecourse offers great parking facilities and public transport links with the city centre and beyond for the thousands of people who flood in to experience its race days and other exciting events.

Glamorous Events

Chester Races Ladies’ Days are the best-known and most glamorous fixtures on the Chester Racecourse calendar but there are plenty of year-round opportunities to enjoy a day at the races with friends, family or colleagues. Racegoers can watch from the Open Course which is popular with families due to the casual dress code and picnic space. The Dee Stand is another good-value option, or you can sit in the Tattersalls Stand which has great views of the finishing straight and access to bars, restaurants and the betting ring. For a real treat, the County Concourse with its champagne bar is the place to be for the Boodles May Festival, or for the ultimate experience, book the Winning Post Enclosure where you’re closest to the action.

A Royal Day Out

If horseracing doesn’t appeal, or you simply feel like trying something different, why not visit Chester Racecourse to enjoy a day watching that most upper class sport, polo? As well as being a premier horseracing destination, Chester Racecourse is now a firmly established venue on the glitzy polo circuit. Although polo events like the Roodee Challenge Cup Polo Weekend are an important date in the diaries for the north-west’s most glamorous socialites, it can be surprisingly affordable to get in and you can even bring a picnic. Or if you’re celebrating a special occasion why not treat yourself to one of the lavish hospitality packages where you can sip champagne and rub shoulders with the insiders in the Sponsors’ and Players’ Enclosure?

Celebrating in Style

Chester Racecourse is the perfect place to celebrate, whatever the occasion. For a casual family get together in relaxed surroundings, The White Horse pub is the place to go for a tasty meal together after a day spent placing your bets. Restaurant 1539 in the roof lounge is the ideal location for a drinks and dinner party that goes on long into the night. Commonhall St Social is another relaxed venue for food, drinks and live music. If you’re looking to organise your own special event, the bespoke catering service here can be relied on to deliver in style for anything from intimate lunches to full scale parties. Not only is Chester Racecourse a popular conference venue, it’s an extremely popular destination for weddings too.

The Ultimate for Exhibitions

Thanks to its vast size, Chester Racecourse regularly welcomes thousands of visitors to its busy schedule of outdoor and indoor exhibitions and shows. One of the most popular of these is the fantastic Chester Arts Fair that comes to Chester Racecourse every November and showcases a huge range of paintings, sculptures, photos and other visual art forms. These are accompanied by an excellent programme of talks and special events for children and adults alike. Chester Racecourse is also a popular destination for wedding exhibitions and food, drink, home, garden, travel and sports-related events throughout the year. These events provide ideas and inspiration to thousands of people as they take a day off to indulge in a favourite interest.