The Racecourse Prices Index: how much for a burger and a pint at Beverley?

The Racecourse Prices Index (RPI) is a new and occasional series, in which we report from each of Britain and Ireland's racetracks on the cost of going racing.

Racecourse report: entry, food and pint prices from Beverley

Beverley

Date visited: Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Was it a big day?

No. The £10,700 Class 4 handicap was the highlight, while there was also an interesting Class 3 novice. The card was abandoned due to safety reasons after four races.

How much was entry?

On the gate, the Grandstand and Paddock enclosure was £18 (£16 in advance), but was £12 for concessions if you are over 65 or a student with a valid ID card.

The Premier enclosure was £26 (£24 in advance), while the Course enclosure in the middle of the track was £8. Under-18s went free in all enclosures when accompanied by an adult.

Other than restaurants/hospitality, what were the food and beverage options?

For a smaller course, there is plenty of choice with three main bars, the 1690 bar (Premier enclosure only), the Rapid Lad bar and Touch Above bar, to choose from with a respectable – if not uncommon – selection of lagers, ales and spirits to sample as well as plenty of soft drink choices.

Nestled in the corner of the Touch Above bar is Trawlers Fish and Chips canteen, with the titular dish available for £9, a burger for £5.40 (£5.60 if you fancied cheese), fishcake and chips for £6.30 or a hot dog for £4.50. A wide variety of choices, but necessarily ones in line with developing a summer body.

Beverley: East Riding of Yorkshire track has plenty of choice for food and refreshmentsCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images)

If you fancy a more quaint experience, the Little Yorkshire Coffee Company cafe in the grandstand provides some of God's Own Country's best tea, coffee and cakes, while the Grill Works burger stand is the sole offering in the Course enclosure.

If you wanted to brave the breezy elements on the Westwood, then there is a small 'Little Yorkshire Ice Cream Company' stand as well as the track's sweet shop if pick 'n' mix is to your liking.

What's the damage?

Bottle of water: £2.40
Cheapest pint: £5.60 for Amstel
Guinness: £6.50
Bottle of champagne: £39.50
Jug of Pimm's: £25
Burger: £5.40

All drink prices taken from the main racecourse bar, or where there are multiple bars, one chosen (the Rapid Lad bar) at random.

What was the burger like?

It was obviously not their speciality, but the cheeseburger was bog-standard, especially if – like myself – you're used to those greasy delicacies on a cold Tuesday night on the football terraces. It definitely did the job, that's for sure.

And the queues?

Given it was a quieter midweek raceday the wait to be served was not expected to be torturous and so it proved. The right amount of staff were on duty for a deceptively chilly Yorkshire day so no punter was left stranded in the cold outside.

What did the punters say?

"I've only been racing a couple of times since we've been allowed back but like everything in life at the moment, it's got a bit more expensive, although the entry into the Grandstand and Paddock was cheaper than I had planned for. I had some fish and chips and it was a touch on the dear side, but the haddock was lovely. I was a bit surprised it was a proper portion."
Martin Jackson, Hull

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