Benidorm's Cheltenham Boom as Brits Choose Spanish Sun Over Gloucestershire
While the Cheltenham Festival reached its dramatic climax in Gloucestershire, thousands of British racing fans were celebrating under the Spanish sun in Benidorm. The Costa Blanca resort basked in glorious 23-degree sunshine as punters donned jockey costumes and embraced a growing tradition of watching the races from Spain rather than the UK.
Staggering 225% Surge in Hotel Bookings
This Spanish alternative has become increasingly popular in recent years, with hotel bookings for the festival period rising by a staggering 225 percent. The appeal extends far beyond just the weather, with significant cost savings proving irresistible to British visitors.
While Cheltenham organisers have reduced Guinness prices to £7.50 per pint this year following criticism, Benidorm's bars offer the same beverage for just £1.70 - less than a quarter of the UK price. This dramatic price difference has proven particularly compelling for cost-conscious racing fans.
Free Entry Versus Expensive Tickets
The financial advantages don't stop at drink prices. Entrance to bars along Benidorm's famous strip is completely free, while a day ticket for the Cheltenham races ranges from £47 to £180. This combination of affordable drinks and no entry fees has created a perfect storm of appeal for British visitors.
Meanwhile, 1,300 miles north in Gloucestershire, the festival concluded with Gaelic Warrior and jockey Paul Townend claiming the prestigious Gold Cup. The joint favourite at 11-4 alongside Jango Baie, who finished second, delivered a dominant performance against what trainer Willie Mullins described as "a good field on paper."
Benidorm's Tourism Boost
The timing of Cheltenham provides Benidorm with an excellent running start to St Patrick's Day celebrations on March 17th, typically a hectic period in the resort. British tourists reportedly constitute over 40 percent of Benidorm's annual visitors, with nearly 900,000 UK travellers visiting the city in 2024 alone.
This Spanish exodus comes as Cheltenham faces attendance challenges. The 2025 festival attracted 218,839 visitors to Prestbury Park, representing a decrease of more than 10,000 from the previous year's figure of just under 230,000. Last year's Ladies Day recorded just 41,949 attendees - the lowest single-day crowd in a quarter of a century.
Cheltenham's Price Reduction Strategy
Many punters have blamed increasing costs as the primary factor for declining attendance. In response, Cheltenham chief executive Guy Lavender spearheaded price reductions for this year's event, cutting a pint of Guinness by 30p to £7.50 - the same price as in 2022.
"The price of a pint of Guinness is a peculiarly emotive issue for many people," Lavender explained in September. "Rather than put our prices up, which I expect every other venue to do, I felt we should reduce those prices and carry those costs ourselves."
The price adjustments extend beyond Guinness, with Guinness 0.0 reduced to £7.30 per pint and various spirits including Morgan's Spiced, Smirnoff, and Gordon's Gin all reduced by 20p to £7 per 25ml shot. However, some items have seen increases, with alcohol-free lager rising by 10p to £4.10 and house wines increasing by 30p to £10.
Despite these efforts to improve value for UK racegoers, Benidorm's combination of sunshine, affordable drinks, and free entertainment continues to attract growing numbers of British racing enthusiasts seeking an alternative Cheltenham experience.
