- Racing fans were left divided after Cheltenham set their prices for event
- Wine enthusiasts will be disappointed to find out a 187ml will cost them £9.70
Horse racing fans were left shocked after the 2025 Cheltenham revealed its prices for drinks at the highly anticipated event.
The event kicked off with another impressive display by Kopek des Bordes, which, despite an expected win, ended up first in a race that was more unpredictable than initially thought.
Many familiar faces joined the public at the stands on the first day of the famous racing festival, such as Six Alex Ferguson, Jordan Pickford, Jonny Evans, and John O’Shea.
While their appearance has brought some nostalgia and pleased several Premier League fans, other supporters were left livid by a substantial increase in drink prices compared to previous years.
The staggering prices start at £7.80 for a pint of Guinness, while a premium lager would cost just 40 pence less.
Alcohol-free lager remains the cheapest beer on the list, with a price of £4, while the zero per cent version of the Irish brewer features at £7.40.
Cheltenham Festival fans have been left shocked as they saw the price of £31.20 for just four pints of Guinness
The opening day of the famous annual event started with a confident win by Kopek des Bordes
Punters drink pints on the concourse at Cheltenham as day one gets underway
Wine lovers will be disappointed to find out that a 187ml would cost £9.70, while the prices of spirits are kept between £7.20 and £7.30.
Soft drinks are priced at £3.10, while sparkling or still water would take £2.50 – a 10 pence increased compared to last year.
However, after a supporter shared a picture of his receipt which shows he spent £31.20 for just four pints of Guiness, horse racing audiences were quick to take on social media in order to share disagreement with the sudden price increase compared to the previous festival.
‘Give it 4-5 years and the alcohol industry will be finished and they’ll only have themselves to blame,’ one said.
Another added: ‘No wonder people are heading abroad to watch it instead of going.
Furthermore, a further supporter said: ‘£7.40 for a 330ml can of beer, ripping people off just,’ while another agreed: ’40p cheaper for 0.0 what’s the point?’
Another added: ‘I hope people sneak their own in’
However, despite a not-cheap day out, it is understood that the first day of the Cheltenham was sold out.
Ian Renton, managing director of Cheltenham, has publicly explained the sudden increase in prices.
Fans have voiced their frustration on X (formerly Twitter) as a supporter shared a picture with drink prices at Cheltenham
‘Throughout the course of this review process there have been three distinct strands which have been impossible to ignore – value for money, the need to provide the best experience possible and the competitiveness of the race programme,’ he said.
‘We understand that when people are paying to attend premium events they expect a premium experience and that has been at the front of our minds when committing to significant investment to improve our car parks, launching a park and ride system and offering more course-facing areas to enjoy a drink while watching the racing.
‘We also know that, at a time when we are all impacted by the rising cost of living, value is more important than ever. As with any event of this size, it is never possible to make changes which are welcomed by everyone.
‘However, we have prioritised listening to our racegoers to put them and their experiences at the heart of the Festival, with the ultimate goal of delivering something that not only meets but exceeds expectations.’
