Boodles May Festival Chester Cup Day 2025

Chester Racecourse now operates on a ‘cashless’ basis at all food and drink outlets. Cash may still be used when placing bets with all on-course bookmakers, and Chester Bet outlets.

We accept all major debit/credit cards and Apple/Android Pay at all our food and drink outlets. Contactless payment is also accepted up to the value of £100.

There are no ATM machines on the racecourse, the nearest ATM machines are located on Watergate Street and Eastgate Street in Chester City Centre. There will be a cashback facility available at some Chester Bet outlets.

Children 17 and under are admitted free of charge into all areas (except the Winning Post) when accompanied by a full paying responsible adult.

No tickets are necessary, however, children entering the County Enclosure or County Long Room will require a junior badge which can be collected from the Box Office on the day of racing.

For enquiries about hospitality bookings, please call 01244 304 631.

Each stand at Chester Racecourse adheres to a specific dress code policy. Take care to read the dress code policy in your chosen enclosure or view our ‘Style Guide’ page where you’ll find a detailed guide to the dress codes and some useful hints and tips on dressing for a race day.

Please note that racegoers who do not adhere to the required dress code may be refused access to the Racecourse.

Click here for our Style Guide page

There are a number of food and beverage outlets situated across the racecourse, serving a variety of food options.

Free tap water is available at all bars that reside within a permanent structure. Please ask a member of staff for your free glass of tap water or the nearest location from which you can acquire free tap water.

Chester promote a responsible drinking policy in conjunction with the Racecourse Association and Drink Aware. Please click here to read more information about the Pace Yourself campaign being promoted at all racecourses.

Please be advised that racegoers are not permitted to bring food and drink onto the racecourse unless in possession of an Open Course ticket.

Please use the following gates when entering the racecourse on a race day (according to your enclosure ticket):

Gate 3 | Winning Post, Edinburgh Gin Garden & All Hospitality (except County Boxes + Restaurant 1539)

Gate 3A | County Concourse

Gate 4 | County Long Room, 1539, & 1539 Roof

Gate 4A | County Boxes, Annual Members & Shareholders

Gate 5 | Tattersalls Enclosure

Gate 6 | Tattersalls Enclosure

Gate 7 | Tattersalls Enclosure

Gate 8 | The Roodee

Gate 9 | The Roodee

Gate 11 | All enclosures arriving via vehicle (except Roodee)

Fast Track Tattersalls

Priority access is via the Box office and includes a race card.

Fast Track County

Priority access is via Gate 3a (fast track lane) and includes a race card.

If arriving by car, Gate 11.

Gates open at 11.30am. Racegoers are advised to leave plenty of time to make their journey to the Racecourse.

Chester Racecourse is located in the heart of the historic city of Chester.

The racecourse is easily accessible by public transport, including the rail network and road and is sign-posted from all major routes. Visit our Plan Your Visit page here for further information on how to reach Chester Racecourse on race day.

There is ample parking for coaches at the Little Roodee car park – open 24 hours.

Tariff (arrivals before 6pm): £5 – up to 12 hours and £8 – over 12 hours

Tariff (arrivals after 6pm to 6.59am the following day): £1.50

Total spaces: 452

Disabled spaces: 4

For information on coach tariffs, please click here.

Please can we remind drivers to be mindful of local residents when they drop-off or pick up – do not leave engines idling or wait in residential areas.

Please be aware that for the Boodles May Festival, there will be no parking available for general admission guests due to operational changes.

We advise that all guests check the Chester Council website for city centre parking or use public transport such as the Chester Park & Ride service.

Car parks in Chester | Cheshire West and Chester Council

All hospitality bookings include complimentary parking as standard.

Racegoers wishing to enjoy a picnic by their car before entering the Open Course will be directed to a specific area of the car park – the car park picnic area. This area is available to racegoers who have purchased Open Course tickets and Open Course car parking. Due to the car park being unavailable, unfortunately no alcoholic drinks can brought onto the racecourse if you are a Roodee ticket holder for the Boodles May Festival.

Racegoers can bring food and soft drinks in sealed plastic containers onto the Open Course on foot through the designated Open Course gates.

BBQs are allowed in designated areas of the car park picnic area, but not on the Open Course itself.

Please be aware Chester Racecourse do not allow collapsible camping chairs in any other enclosure than the Open Course.

For more information, please visit our Picnic Policy guidance here.

On race days, road closures are in place around the racecourse to enable pedestrians’ safe entry to and exit from the Racecourse.

Between the hours of 09:00 and 21:00, road closures will be in place on New Crane Street, Watergate Street and Nuns Road. Safety barriers will enforce the closures, providing additional security to members of the public. Barriers will be removed from 21:00 on the evening of a raceday to allow for normal access. Please be aware that timings change for a Friday evening/Saturday day meeting. Barriers will be in place between 13:30 on the Friday to 21:00 on the Saturday.

We recommend that you do not input the Chester Racecourse postcode (CH1 2LY) into your Sat Nav, but instead approach from Sealand Road (to the West of the city) using postcode CH1 4LD.

To find out what ticket upgrades are available for this raceday, please contact the Box Office on 01244 304 610.