The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest horse racing events in the UK. Each year, 28 races take place over a four-day period, with an average of 65,000 attendees visiting the Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire. The event includes Ladies Day, the Gold Cup race and sometimes coincides with St. Patrick’s Day.

GL events UK has been providing temporary infrastructure to the Festival for 7 years, and as the 2022 Festival got under way fully for the first time since the pandemic, GL events UK was delighted to again install over 15,000 square meters of temporary structures, supporting the Tented Village as well as providing additional facilities.

The build required the construction of two 20m x 40m triple deck structures to house an exclusive dining and hospitality space with surrounding glass panels, and featured balconies to watch the races. Due to the hospitality requirements of approximately 40,000 guests, served over the four-day festival, several public restaurants and bars, and hospitality pods were provided for casual dining and beverages.

Other delivery highlights included a 10m x 10m wine shop for Accolade Wines; retail shops such as the 3m x 10m Festival Shop, 30m x 35m trade stands and 10m x 15m Boodles Shop; facilities for Owners and Trainers, North (10m x 25m) and South (15m x 25m); ticket offices and betting syndicates. An important feature of the Festival for the last few years, has been the distinctive Orchard area, where the structures are linked with 1400 square meters cassette flooring covered with Astro turf to create a premium garden feel for visitors where they can enjoy dining, hospitality and retail, all a short walking distance from the action of the racecourse itself.

Moreover, the delivery extended to ventilation and air conditioning, toilet facilities, fire alarms, lighting, furniture, internal hard wall fitout and carpets.

Throughout its partnership with The Jockey Club Racecourses, GL events UK has proven its skills and expertise and has demonstrated the benefits of working with a provider of temporary structures so experienced in the delivery of horse races and equestrian events.

David Mackinnon, Regional Head of Operations at The Jockey Club commented, “Over the years, we have partnered with GL events UK to provide a range of temporary facilities for our spectators and participants giving them a feeling of arrival and a heightened entertainment experience at the racecourse. We are looking forward to working with GL events UK on The 2023 Cheltenham Festival.”