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chelters16
22 Sep 12 10:42
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Date Joined: 02 Jun 10
| Topic/replies: 809 | Blogger: chelters16's blog
Last night my 2 mates and I(3 amigos) decided due to one of the amigos being unable to attend the festival(family reasons)that the annual pilgrimage was off for 2013. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth we have decided to go to Newbury for the 3 day Hennesey meeting.

Now we are all in Scotland so flights to Heathrow on the Wednesday-no prob,its where to base ourselves we are planning on renting a serviced apartment for Wed-Sun,but where Newbury itself,Reading or Slough,any advice lads bearing in mind transport link to-from the racecourse etc and  as none of us have done Newbury before any other tips/advice of a general nature would be welcomed as well.
Im gutted as I will be watching the festival on the box for the first time in years but looking forward to the Hennesey meeting now.
Thanks in advance chaps.
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Report strontium September 22, 2012 11:40 AM BST
There's a railway station right at the racecourse (across the street from the entrance). Newbury RC is 20-25 minutes on the train from Reading, which in turn is 30 minutes from London Paddington - so you have a lot of choice about where you stay. Trains will be pretty busy on the Saturday but no problem at all on Thurs/Fri.

Of the towns you mention, Reading probably has the best facilities for a good time, but you could also consider west London.
Report chelters16 September 22, 2012 11:42 AM BST
thanks strontium
Report strontium September 22, 2012 11:42 AM BST
PS Plus you can get a bus from Heathrow to central reading (http://www.railair.com/) which might suit.
Report Mr Eboue September 22, 2012 11:44 AM BST
Forum legend Ibrahima Sonko lives in Newbury I believe.

I'll speak to him the next time he's on and point him in this direction.
Report Ibrahima Sonko September 22, 2012 12:07 PM BST
strontium advice is spot on.

Newbury is a quiet town but saturday will be busy, if you want a lively town then staying in Reading would be your best bet. last train from newbury to reading is 2317 so you can have a late night in newbury on hennessy day as the town is busy on a saturday but dead on a thursday.
Report chelters16 September 22, 2012 12:23 PM BST
cheers mate
Report shockster September 22, 2012 4:14 PM BST
Chelters, my mates and I have been going to Hennessy since 2005. Only Friday and Saturday.  Got to say we're basically in our 30/40's and Newbury is sound. Plenty of pubs and we've been going back like I have said.  A note about Reading as a few lads decided to try it last year and it was a bit of a disaster.  Bouncers stopping group(there were 5 of them) and this is the pubs not clubs and also were stopped for trainers.  Just a bit of advice if you go there, but my lot won't try it again.

You'll have a great time. Top racing.  Strontium, do you know why Gerry Fielden is on the Thursday? Bit gutted i'll be watching it on TV as it was my favourie race after the Hennessy.
Report strontium September 22, 2012 5:23 PM BST
Sorry Shockster, no idea. Maybe it's to beef up the Thursday card? They've added a Listed novice hurdle to Saturday. Who can see inside the mind of the newly renamed "The Racecourse Newbury"? (Great letter about that in the RP yesterday....)

Re Reading, I'd be a bit surprised if you have problems as a group of 3 and if you do with the pubs on the main drag, there are a lot of quieter but excellent pubs nearby. There are a couple of very good pubs for real ale in the city centre. Reading also has the best pie shop in the world.
Report racingguru September 22, 2012 5:24 PM BST
If the budget isn't too much of an issue I'd stay in West London (anything within close commuter distance to Paddington).Bayswater, Queensway is a good place to have some fun Grin.You'll have a better time than staying elsewhere. Reading is not that great a town and as for Slough...
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