Race-goers who swapped Cheltenham for Benidorm this week have found the weather on the Spanish coast worse than at the festival itself. While Prestbury Park enjoys warm winter sunshine, rain in Benidorm has forced T-shirt-wearing enthusiasts indoors, leaving outdoor screens rolled up and seating areas near empty.
Daniel Sewell, 35, from Warrington, is spending Monday to Thursday in the resort with friends as a combined stag do. He said: “We came to watch Cheltenham in the sun with cheap beer and hotels – but the rain, well, we could be in Cheltenham.” His group of 14 is sharing an apartment for £800, with return flights costing £130 each. At the Ibrox Bar, they were buying €10 buckets of five bottled beers, compared with £7.50 a pint and £70 on-the-gate tickets at Cheltenham.
Ronnie Russell, 67, from Hull, used to attend the festival every year and is now in Benidorm for the third time, paying £500 for five nights’ full board at the four-star Hotel Rosamar. He said: “Three years ago it was sunny. Last year, and this year so far, we haven’t had the weather, but I’d still rather be here than stuck in the Cheltenham car park and covered in mud. We love the €2 pints – but the prices are creeping up, and it’s getting so popular here for festival week you need to book in advance.”
Travel retailer On the Beach said bookings at Benidorm during the festival were up 65 per cent on last year, with hotel bookings more than doubling. Wilma Wallace, from the Ibrox Bar, said the trend began around eight years ago and has grown every year. “We just hope the weather gets better on Thursday and Friday,” she added.
Meanwhile, attendance at Cheltenham has been declining, with last year’s total of 218,839 down 5 per cent on 2024. This year’s opening day, however, saw an increase, following changes including a 30p reduction in draught beer and cider prices and a relaxation of outdoor drinking rules. Ladies Day also returned on Wednesday after a five-year absence.
Guy Lavender, chief executive of the racecourse, said: “It is wonderful to see so many people wanting to engage with and celebrate the event. Whether fans are watching from the comfort of their own home, while on holiday in Benidorm or soaking up the unbeatable atmosphere on course, we want them to feel a part of it.”
