off to aintree for the first time this year

For me Thursday is the best day and I will hopefully be doing it again this year. I went last year mainly to see Big Bucks and Denman.Expect plenty of room,friendly people, trains were running well. Really good day.

Sorry forgot to say that  I had been 5 times before but last year cos I was on my own I walked the GN course did it just before 12 I think and I'd reccommend it.

that sounds great. cant wait.

was up at ayr at couple of years back for the scottish national and found that a lovely little course.

top viewing on the sloping embankment, make sure you walk down to the Chair to see that jumped at close quarters.

Thursday is a good day to break yourself in. Nice and comfortable and not too many tango-lookalikes.

Agree with above, Thursday is decent, and not rammed

Went on Ladies Day a couple of years ago and it was ridiculous, women using the urinals because of queues for their bogs

andrew,i,m from liverpool and if you need any advice on where to eat /drink or stay,travel directions,i will only be glad to help.

cheers mate.

ive passed aintree on the train numerous times so should be fine on that score, what are the pubs like near to the course?

couple by old main enterance very busy.the old roan not to bad,stop before aintree.

how long would it take to walk to the old roan from aintree station?

not long mate,strait walk,10 mins at most

cheers, will probably have a walk down there, is it best to go in there before the gates open or after the last race?

like most pubs near racecourses,very busy after racing but as your going thurs,should be ok.go before gates open then once your on the course bars are well staffed and shouldn,t have a prob getting served.

Reckon the Sefton and Queens (the 2 pubs outside the gate/Aintree station) should be busy but OK on Thursday (they are usually OK on Friday too but very busy).

If you do go to the Old Roan pub, I would get the train up to the course - it's only one stop, or get the bus (any bus that stops at the Old Roan bus stop on the A59 passes the course).

Personally, I would head towards Walton Vale after racing (going towards Liverpool, 5-10 mins walk) because there are more pubs, although they are 'lower quality' on race days they will be OK, and if you have done your conkers, there is a Wetherspoons for a cheap drink.

cheers shab, just looking on the 'spoons website, which one is it - the raven?

Yes, that's the one - I never knew its real name!

how much is a pint at the racecourse? roughly?

It was £3.55 in December for bitter. After yet another obligatory price rise I dare say it'll be £3.70/80 a pint.

ouch, buggers can dictate what they want though as you have no option.

where is the best viewing within the tattarsalls enclosure, is it good enough for seeing the action?

You go up the steps to the Aintree mound-plenty of viewing there.

the only way the prices will drop is if you stop buying (which is hard). Chargr you 46quid on the saturday and you struggle to move, if you want to go to the parade ring and then in the tattersalls stand youve no chance. I still will be hopefully going thou if i can get two tickets

I know they've never heard that there's a recession on and price freezes don't exist

Exactly Mully,tickets up nearly 20%

Agree thursday is the ay for me too!

Agree thursday is the day for me too!

Best way to get there from Southport? Train or Taxi?

Southport - Ormskirk Taxi

Ormskirk - Aintree Train

Did it last year. Easy

I'm planning to go on the Thursday also, and travelling from Yorkshire by car.

Any useful tips on Parking nearby? never driven to Aintree before, keen for a quickish get away after racing.

Any help/advice would be much appreciated, thanks in advance.

The Railway club, (BRNESC) is ideal for a pint before and after racing, you don't have to be a member to get in and if you go out via the stables / Melling Road exit it's literally over the road from the racecourse, probably the best tip you will receive all weeek!

Brownie, plenty of places to park if you get there handy enough, for a quick getaway I would suggest parking in the British Legion Car Park at the Old Roan, a minute from Aintree via the adjacent train station and only 10 mins walk, after racing its a lot easier to get back on the motorway from there as well, as you miss most of the race traffic in the immediate vicinity of the racecourse.

Brownie - my suggestion would be to find somewhere near Kirkby/Fazakerley and park up.May I suggest Kirkby Golf Course (no one will know you have parked there). They are right near to motorwayway junction (J6 M57). You will get nowhere to park nearer to the course. Then its a short taxi or bus ride away. You would then need to enter the course near the Melling Road entrances (the Main road in Fazakerley has a cemetary on it - you will find the course hidden behind this), which is what i use everyyear for a nice walk across the course and seeing Aintree in all its splendour.

Sacrifice - SSSSHHHHHHHH!

thats about the Railway club

Andrew, deffo follow the advice above to get there early and walk the GN course - will add hugely to your enjoyment of the day.

Cheers Sacrifice and Proctor

If I come off the M57, onto the A506 (Longmoor Lane/Valley Road) would I get anywhere near Kirkdale Cemetery? or Churchill Ind Estate, doesn't seem to far away from the course, then straight back onto the A506 to the motorway.

Thoughts chaps?

the girlfriend is coming with me now after my mate couldnt get the day off, cant see her walking round with me :D only a fortnight now, good stuff.

on a scale of 1-10, how busy will the city centre be at night, eg mathew street or concert square. we'll be off there after the racing then getting the last train back to her place at about 1130, if im still walking/awake

Brownie - thats the one mate, trust me thats the route I go for last 20 years. I live locally though.  You cant miss Kirkdale Cemetary on the righthand side.  Although the closer you get the more difficult to park.  I would seriously consider the Golf Course  - this is 100yards from the motorway junction. It wont be that busy, and you can just park up, walk round to the main road - 50yards, and then catch a bus down to the cemetary. Walk behind it and Bingo. Then on way home just retrace steps. Most people go the main entrance, which is a nightmare.

Andrew - Thursday night is about a 7. Friday is a 15. It doesnt get much busier in the city centre than the Friday. It is the biggest Liverpool day out. End of story.

Andrew, possibly not a great idea to take your girlfriend to Matthew Street / Concert Square that weekend. Personaaly I would head for Palm Sugar, Albert Dock or Heebie Jeebies, give yourself a chance of avoiding the lunatics.

proctor

Have you named yourself after the greatest all round cricketer ever to grace the whites? If so I bow down to you.

If not, you can redeem yourself by confirming that I will be allowed in the Railway Club without being a member. In the past a couple of us have braved the Sefton and have even been permitted into the "locals" bar. Once you have overcome the broken glass on the floor and the language barrier of the broad Irish/Scouse/Drunken (that's one person by the way and often behind the bar) accents of the "locals"

It is only likely to be on the Thursday that two or three of us would use the Club and it would be nice to have a !quiet" drink after the last.

Thanks in advance.

Ha - no such thing The Sawyer.

I can confirm tho you will be grand in the Railway club - I only go there twice a year and thats Thurs/Fri. Its great after a long day, usually on the Thursday good crowd, had a crack with Al Eile boys a few years back and always get a few racing faces in there (the club doubles as the trainers car park). Hopefully thats me redeemed!

It's very exposed and if the wind gets up and the temperature isn't too high it can feel very cold.

Cheers Proc - may see you in there on the Thursday

So on the Thursday are we best heading into the Railway club for a few beers before getting the train back to Southport? Is the British Legion club nearby? (im a member)

Do you think it won't be as packed this year due to people saving money for or going to Wembley? I think I'm going Thursday although not certain with my friends wanting money for the Derby too. Surely will be the same for a lot of people.

Bluebirdfan, the nearest Legion is Maghull as the one at the Old Roan closed last year, Railway club is favourite.

goldcupwinner - it will be rammed. dont worry about that.

there will be standing room only in the Railway club at this rate. On the Friday, the curry and rice goes down a treat in the 'big room'!!

Cheers all, hoping for some better weather than we are having at the moment!

Have a good day all that are going.

Andrew and Bluebirdfan, how did it go? Did you find the railway club? Would be interested to know as doubtless a similiar thread will appear next year, thanks.