And they’re off… to Benidorm! Why racing fans are snubbing Cheltenham for a cheap holiday
By Lauren Pinkney, digital video producer
Cheltenham Festival is one of the major sporting events of the year. It’s an unmissable experience for many people.
But with ticket prices, travel, accommodation and spending money to consider, some are finding cheaper thrills elsewhere.
Carl Hinchy hasn’t missed one since 1993 – but this year he’s watching from Benidorm.
“We just got fed up with the prices,” he told Sky News.
“At Cheltenham we were paying £450 a night for a one bedroom apartment. We’d be paying that for five nights, that’s £2,000 to £2,500, you’ve got travel to the races from the North West of England. It’s just crazy.”
In Benidorm, he says they’re paying £150 per person, including flights.
“We’ve just taken our family to Barbados for two weeks on the money that we’ve saved not going to Cheltenham this year.”
Stuart Gilchrist runs Oscar’s Bar in Tenerife.
“I think once you’ve been abroad for the Cheltenham Festival, you don’t tend to go back once you’ve had the experience of being in the sun,” he said.
“Another advantage is cheap drink prices. Out in Tenerife you can get a pint for £2.50 for local beer.
“I had friends that went last year and are now coming to Tenerife this year. I think they ended up staying in a motorhome because of the price of hotels.”
The Cheltenham Festival’s attendance fell in 2024 with many suggesting rising costs could be to blame.
Chief executive Guy Lavender said in an open letter that he was “expecting fewer racegoers” this year.
This is despite organisers making changes to improve the experience for fans.
Ticket prices were frozen at 2024 levels, discounts were offered, and course-side drinking restrictions were partially lifted to ease queues and crowding.
Will this attract punters back to Gloucestershire from sunny beaches?
“For me, what can they do? The hotel prices in town are very, very off-putting,” said Carl.
“National Hunt racing is a working man’s sport, and working men have only got so much money in their pocket. Let’s explore the alternatives.”
For Carl, the trend of jetting off for race week is here to stay.
“The momentum is building behind it.”