Best Hotel's for the festival...

You might find one 30 miles away at this stage in proceedings.

I am already at the Barcelo (last min deal), but wanted to know for future events...

We always stay in the holiday inn exp Chelt.  Can walk to course, stumble in from town after each night (well early morning).  Lots of racing people.  But unfortunately £350 per night.

Thistle Hotel (used to be the Golden Valley) was a favourite haunt of many Irish racegoers, including trainers.

Queens is the landmark hotel in Cheltenham but looks a bit tatty from the outside these days. Great if you like playing cards.

Montpellier Chapter (previously the Kandinsky)has only recently re-opened after a very extensive refurbisment.

Hotel Du Vin is also good quality and in the town centre.

Many rooms are booked from one year to the next and you will pay top dollar, so book early if you are going to give it a whirl. Hope this helps.

Barcelo is ok we stayed there last year but rooms are very basic, drinks hellishly expensive and no atmosphere in the hotel.The Thistle is very good and they make a real effort to have things going on, hog roast, race nights etc if you want a night in. We are staying in the Queens this year for the first time and despite it looking a bit shabby like the idea of being a resident so will let you know.

My tip look to book in April each year when the rooms go online and you always spot a bargain if you put the effort it.

Stayed at The Holiday Inn Express last year,£250 for the night this year they wanted £350!.This year staying at The Frogmill which is about 6miles out of town but i`m not much of a drinker so a quiet meal with the wife and an early night[;)].

What are good websites to gain access to what hotels are ava, I will def follow the advice and book in Feb...

When do the actual tickets get released for the festival?

Queens is OK as a hotel but bars get mobbed in the evening.
Best hotel/restaurant/bar by a mile is the Rising Sun halfway up Cleeve Hill, you're a million to get a room there during the festival though, been trying for years.

Lygon in BROADWAY,,,

horse9 Joined: 12 Sep 10
Replies: 670 27 Feb 11 17:13 
Queens is OK as a hotel but bars get mobbed in the evening.
Best hotel/restaurant/bar by a mile is the Rising Sun halfway up Cleeve Hill, you're a million to get a room there during the festival though, been trying for years.

As we drive into Cheltenham on the Monday, we stop to have our first pint at the Risng Sun, before settling in at our accommodation in Bishop's Cleeve.

JOCI - great place to go for breaky (plenty of trainers/owners in there at 9am) and after racing, I'd say I've picked up more decent info from that place than anywhere.
(ignoring the 10 year old who sold me a tip for a pound years ago - Paddys Return in the Triumph)

We have a fantastic breakfast at the house we're staying at (we even get haggis thrown in). Fantastic start to the day. Benn going to the same place for years.

I'm staying at the Premier Inn in the centre of Bristol! About £35pppn and 40 minutes on the train from Bristol to Cheltenham. Job's a good un.