Cheltenham Festival
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Anyone have experience of staying in Birmingham for the festival? If so, are the trains packed on the return leg from Cheltenham-to-Birmingham? Tried to reserve seats but there's none available for all train times after 5.30pm up until the last trains on all days. Only other option is staying in Worcester but i was told the after-racing pubs are quiet.
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Not as quiet as the trains to Worcester in the evening unless they put extra on. From memory you have to get off at Worcester Shrub Hill and walk back into the town centre.
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I have caught train back to Brum at around 10 ish and it is always empty
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Also caught one at around 9 pm one year and plenty of seats available.
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Stayed in Worcester about five years ago and the trains or lack of them are a pain, it is pretty quiet of an evening too.
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Jasey behave. I've been getting the train back to brum for years and theyre far from empty.
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I must be imagining it then.
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Coach is only about £20 return. No queuing, no standing
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Anyone else from here basing themselves in Bristol?
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Booked Birmingham... can't do coach though 'cause i've booked tickets to the final flight bar after racing on first two days - probably a waste of money and a continuation of £5 a pint - which i'm definitely not arguing about.
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A lot more people seem to be ditching Cheltenham as there base for the festival in recent years, a crowd of guys whom I meet every year and work for a major international tyre company told me last year they wouldn't be staying in Cheltenham again for festival as the hotels are taking the piss, £280 a night for the holiday inn, the company pays for the trip but even at that said they were being treated like mugs. I have def noticed in last couple years that town ain't as busy after racing as 5-10 years ago.
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Could be wrong regarding the price, had a few beers when was told this, just know they said there staying outside Cheltenham from now on.
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I only live an hour and a half from Chelters, and usually get the train up and back for the festival, but this time am crashing at a mates in Bristol. Plenty of good pubs and bars in Bristol, it's always a good night.
Obviously the trains are disgustingly busy pretty much all evening after racing, at least until 9 o'clock anyway. Obviously be like sardines in the morning too but it's only 30 mins to Parkway and 40 to Temple Meads so not too bad. It's heaving on normal racedays let alone the festival. |
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Staying in Bristol with tickets for Tuesday and Wednesday myself. What's the best time to get the train through at? Presume as early as possible about 9ish?
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Was looking at the bus but want to have the flexibility after racing to do what we fancy rather than heading straight back to Bristol.
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Slightly off topic about Brum and Worcester, but for the first time, we're going to give the National Express Festival Coaches a go.
http://www.nationalexpress.com/events/cheltenham-festival.aspx The more tickets you buy, the cheaper they become, but they all leave at 6:30 each day. It will be stuck in traffic for a bit at the end of the day, but no scrum trying to get a racebus to the train station, and then waiting on a chocker platform. May be another option for some....it's also a hell of a lot cheaper than the train from were I am coming from. |
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going down on the Monday on the rattler from the north east 40 quid
coming back on the Friday 115 quid yet more rip off |
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Wellchief, i found the coach much better. If they use the car park at the other end of the course then the traffic isnt even that much of a problem.
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@Shrewd_Dude - The trains are every half an hour on the hour. We usually get the 09:00 or 09:30 and arrives 40 mins later. Getting there between 10.15 & 10.45 gives you plenty of time for a couple of pints in the pub next to the station and enough time to walk to the course with an hour on course soaking it up before the first race.
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Thanks. Think we will aim for 9am. Booked an apartment so will probably watch the morning line with some breakfast rolls then head for the station for 9am. Can't wait.
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Pleasegivemeanailedontip
27 Jan 16 10:28 Joined: 30 Mar 08 | Topic/replies: 573 | Blogger: Pleasegivemeanailedontip's blog Wellchief, i found the coach much better. If they use the car park at the other end of the course then the traffic isnt even that much of a problem. Thanks a lot for the feedback mate, I'm sure the lads will be glad about that. We get there at 10am, so the gates won't even be open then, so we'll have a wander and try and find a pub for a good brekkie. We normally go to Bishops Cleeve, so we'll probably head up that way. |
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Never been up there or thought of doing that but sounds like a good plan. Its a 10 minute stroll from the north car park to the north entrance so i usually dont mind waiting around the other 15 minutes for the door to open as its not as busy that end and i like to get in quick and take advantage of an empty bar at cheltenham. If it goes the north entrance (fairly sure it will) then looks handy for bishops cleeve.
Not queueing, not worrying about getting a seat, toilet facilities, relaxed atmosphere, are all great. Being made to leave early is an inconvenience but theres still enough time to throw a couple back after racing |
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wellchief
Its a fair old step into Cleeve to one of the boozers even from the north car park. Smiths rugby club (or whatever they call it these days) is on the corner by the traffic lights and they advertise breakfast etc and only a stones throw from where the coaches park. |
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Worcester is busy 7 days a week mate, great base for Cheltenham
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If you're in Worcester rent a barge with yer mates, skipper it down the Severn (stopping off at Upton for a quick pub crawl along the way), then moor up in Tewkesbury for the week. Perfect.
Barges are the only thing in Cheltenham week that aren't tripled in price - quite the opposite in fact, you're out of season. |
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Any of you lads from Worcester?
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i stay in worcester quite a lot in fact i have spent the last 3 new years eves there not sure about the train to cheltenham but certainly wouldnt put anybody of staying there plenty of pubs to suit all needs.
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Foxy lm in worcester with 2 mates all forty something can you recommend a good sports bar in the city centre and possibly a good bar for pulling women of a certain age.
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Good sports bar would be "o neils" good bar for ladies of a certain age would be "drummonds"
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There is no way i would stop in Birmingham...from my memory the train is bloody heaving..its a relief to get off in Worcester
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I decided to stay in Birmingham just 'cause of the prices/options... pulling ladies midweek in Worcester - is it seriously busy? I like staying out 'til 3am to be honest... i can't have no pubs calling last orders at 11 and then having nowhere to go for first few days of the festival
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its always busyish mate, university city after all lol
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What about places to stay pal, any cheap gaffs?
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theres travel lodges and premier inn mate, wouldnt think theyd be full
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also the WHITEHOUSE HOTEL is right in the centre of town, 50 yards from train station
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not yet stayed at the whitehouse but i have had good reports and will be staying there in june,the premier by the cricket ground is very good,
chelters16 not sure they have sports bars like say walkabout just plenty of bars to suit everybody,its just a good city,regarding pulling birds midweek in march i should imagine that would be a bit tricky,anyway counting your winnings and plotting the next day should be a priority. |
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Robbiebox9 . . . been going to the Festival since 2005. For the past 6 or so years we've stayed in Birmingham. National Express do a 'Cheltenham Special' from Digbeth Bus Station every day (2 time options). It takes you direct to the course & is cheaper than the train. Getting out of the car park can be a nightmare after racing but once you're on the road it's no bother & only as packed as fully seated will allow. £22.50 return.
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