With Chester, Bangor, and Bolesworth racecourses just a short drive from The Lion at Malpas, we’re never too far away from the equestrian action. Whether you’re planning a date, taking the family on a trip out, going with friends, or attending solo, there’s much to consider when planning your racing away day in Cheshire. Here are our tips for making your day the very best, from our team who welcome many racegoers through our doors every year.
Start Your Research
Placing modest bets are what makes race days so exciting, and whether you’re a novice or a racing aficionado – it’s worth having a look at the local papers such as the Racing Post for tips and tricks before approaching the bookies. If you’re headed to The Lion for a drink before you travel to the course, you may even meet other punters with their own suggestions. We welcome plenty of people at The Lion who stay with us when spending days out at our local racing venues, as well as our locals who enjoy catching the action on our screens instead.
Dress To Impress
Many would say that one of the best things about a true racing away day in Cheshire, is the fun of getting all dressed up – especially if you’re there for one of the parade days. Dress codes often include tailored suits for gentleman and dresses and fascinators for the ladies. If you love getting suited and booted, planning your outfits in advance is essential!
Choose Child-Friendly
Horse racing can go hand in hand with drinking and betting, so an adults-only affair is often the ticket for racegoers in Cheshire. However, in recent years our local venues have been putting on events that are far more family friendly and well worth considering for your calendars so everyone can join in on the fun.
- Chester Races host an annual ‘Family Funday’ near the end of July every year
- Bangor-On-Dee Racecourse has its ‘Wrexham Lager Funday’ in the middle of May
- The Bolesworth International Horse Show is great for all the family with live music
Needless to say, we are very child friendly at The Lion if you do decide to plan a racing away day in Cheshire with all of your family, we have a tasty kids menu on offer and have a number of family and twin rooms for overnight stays too.
Book Dinner In Advance
There’s nothing worse than leaving your planning until the last minute, only to find all local hotels and restaurants are booked up. If you’re making a day of your time at the races, then we recommend booking in somewhere to drink and dine afterwards nice and early, so you don’t have to worry. At The Lion at Malpas, you can book our tables directly online, which makes it easy for you.
Travelling Home
The last part of your day is actually normally the first thing to be considered when planning a racing away day. If you’ve not got a willing designated driver to hand, then we recommend booking a taxi or checking bus and train schedules well in advance. We’re no more than 17 miles away from any of our local courses, so it’s not too expensive to catch a ride.
Resting Your Head
After a long day of being on your feet, straining your eyes to see the finish line, and (hopefully!) collecting all of your winnings, it’s time to rest!
We may be biased, but where better to stay than across the courtyard in one of our 16 beautiful countryside rooms, based in the heart of Cheshire?
You can book online via our website for a well-deserved B&B experience after a fun day out. Child and dog-friendly options are available.
