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Thirsty horseracing fans will have to dig a little deeper for their favourite tipple at the Cheltenham Festival this year.
The showpiece four-day event is set to get under way on Tuesday, and there’s once again likely to be plenty of demand for refreshments from the punters.
Perhaps the most popular drink is Guinness, with an estimated 265,000 pints of the black stuff set to be put away between now and Friday – enough to fill three Olympic-sized swimming pools.
However, the Irish favourite is set to come in at a price of £7.80, a rise on the previous price of £7.50.
It’s the same price as a pint of Doom Bar, while a can of premium lager will set punters back £7.40.
For those who fancy keeping a clear head, a pint of Guinness 0.0 is also priced at £7.40, and a bottle of alcohol-free lager at £4.
Spirits start from £7.20 for a 25ml measure – which is a 20p increase on last year – while a 187ml glass of house wine will cost you £9.70, which is the same price.
Explaining the price hikes, Cheltenham’s managing director Ian Renton said: “Throughout the course of this review process there have been three distinct strands which have been impossible to ignore – value for money, the need to provide the best experience possible and the competitiveness of the race programme.
“We understand that when people are paying to attend premium events they expect a premium experience and that has been at the front of our minds when committing to significant investment to improve our car parks, launching a park and ride system and offering more course-facing areas to enjoy a drink while watching the racing.
“We also know that, at a time when we are all impacted by the rising cost of living, value is more important than ever. As with any event of this size, it is never possible to make changes which are welcomed by everyone. However, we have prioritised listening to our racegoers to put them and their experiences at the heart of the Festival, with the ultimate goal of delivering something that not only meets but exceeds expectations.”
The move hasn’t sat well with some race-goers.
“Good things come to those who have plenty of disposable income,” said one on social media.
Another described the price of a 330ml lager as a “p*** take”, while one mused “And they wonder why ticket sales are down.”
Cheltenham Festival 2025 drink prices
- Guinness pint £7.80, half £3.90
- Guinness 0.0 pint £7.40, half £3.70
- Premium lager pint £7.40
- Alcohol-free lager pint £4
- Doom bar pint £7.80
- Jamesons £7.30
- Morgans Spiced £7.20
- Smirnoff £7.20
- Gordons Gin £7.20
- Gordon Pink Gin £7.20
- House white/red/rose £9.70
- Soft drinks £3.10
- Cordial dash £0.45
- Mixers £2.70
- Water – still/sparkling £2.50
