The Racecourse Prices Index: how much for a burger and pint on the Rowley Mile?

In the Racecourse Prices Index (RPI) we report from Britain and Ireland's racetracks on the cost of going racing.

Racecourse report: entry, food and pint prices from Newmarket (Rowley Mile)

Newmarket

The Rowley Mile hosted the first day of its Cambridgeshire meeting on ThursdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Date visited: Thursday, September 22, 2022

Was it a big day?

Day one of the Cambridgeshire meeting, featuring the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes and Listed Rose Bowl Stakes but it felt like the calm before the storm with a modest crowd at best.

How much was entry on the gate?

Grandstand and paddock: £19
Premier: £28

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

Loads to go at. As well as the usual watering holes, pasties (from £5.50) and sausage rolls (£5) were available in the main grandstand but the place to go for food was the outside seating area at the far end of the paddock.

All tastes were catered for courtesy of a pizza van (margherita for £11), noodle shack (noodle bowl from £8) and hog roast stall (£8 with all the trimmings) complementing the usual burger and hot dog stands.

However, it was the Fire House and Smoke Shack that looked the pick with punters, although no one was left waiting for long.

What's the damage?

Bottle of water: £2.20 (in a can)
Cheapest pint: Carling, Sharp's and Aspall's all £6.50
Guinness: £6.75
Champagne: £95 a bottle
Burger: £12 with all the extras, including chips, from the Fire House

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

What was the burger like?

Served with Monterey Jack cheese, bacon, onion relish, crispy bacon, lettuce and tomato, and accompanied with chips, it was a "substantial and tasty burger" according to one racegoer.

And the queues?

No queues at the food kiosks and no more than two deep at the bar around the time of the first race, it looked plain sailing for punters. The bar staff will likely face a sterner test in the next couple of days.

What did the punters say?

Once you're in you've got to pay their prices and in my eyes it's too expensive. We've been coming to Newmarket for a few years and always enjoy it but the prices have been edging up.
Carolyn Williams, Wellingborough

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