The Racecourse Prices Index: how much for food and drink at Newcastle?

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 Newcastle

Newcastle

Date visited: Saturday, June 25, 2022

Was it a big day?

The biggest of the year, with ITV on hand for the £150,000 JenningsBet Northumberland Plate, highlight of an eight-race card offering just £4,000 shy of £400,000 in total.

After racing Pete Tong, who is described as "Radio One DJ and all-round dance deity", performed with a 50-piece orchestra. The crowd was estimated at 17,500, the first proper Plate day turnout since 2019 as last year's attendance was limited to 4,000.

The Northumberland Plate was run in front of a full crowd for the first time since 2019Credit: David Carr

How much was entry on the gate?

All-round dance deities do not come cheap and it was £60 to pay on the day for a Premier ticket and £40 for the Grandstand. Buying at the earliest opportunity in advance took those prices down to £40 and £25 respectively. Under-18s paid £25.

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

Feeding the 17,500 is quite an effort, as is quenching the thirst of a crowd that is more, shall we say, absorbent than most. To that end, a former betting hall has undergone a £2million transformation in recent years into a facility with three bars and a fish and chip shop.

But on a sunny day the main action was outside, where master tents specialised in particular drinks. If you wanted Kingstone Press cider, you did not have to queue behind someone looking for two pints of lager, a Pimms and a Pernod and blackcurrant.

As well as more fish and chips, the de facto food village in the Grandstand enclosure also had selling points for hog roast, German sausages and Greek street food, plus a Chinese noodle bar, while there was wood-fired pizza and more hog roast outside the weighing-room — a bit cruel if you were sweating to make weight.

Those confident of winning a few quid could splash out on a luxury dining pod in a fenced-off VIP area on the infield past the winning post, with an all-inclusive "grazing menu". It is not cheap at £250 a head, but it is already sold out for ladies day next month.

What's the damage?

Bottle of water: £2.40
Cheapest pint: Bombardier £5.35
Guinness: £5.65 a pint
Champagne: £55
Cheeseburger: £5

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

What was the burger like?

Tasty, with cheese and plenty of onions, and so deep it wouldn't quite all fit in the photo.

A cheeseburger at Newcastle would cost you £5 on Plate dayCredit: David Carr

And the queues?

Not bad, considering the size of the crowd.

What did the punters say?

Dan Laws from nearby Newburn said: "It's the first time I've ever been here and we had a margherita pizza. It was £12 but it was all right, I suppose. I'd give it six out of ten."

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