How to do Cheltenham like a pro, not a novice – the best pubs for food, drinks, convenience and more at Prestbury Park
Between March 11th until Friday the 14th, approximately 250,000 people will flock to the Cheltenham Festival to witness 28 races that signify the highlight of the world’s jump racing calendar.
Whether you have been to Prestbury Park before, or you’re finally taking the plunge to visit the world famous racecourse in Gloucestershire, the Racing Post has created the ultimate guide for pre-race refreshments and a celebratory toast after the day’s racing has concluded.
To create the index, data experts at the Racing Post ranked a total of 35 pubs around the Cheltenham area by a variety of different criteria. These included the distance from both the Festival and the Cheltenham Spa rail station, TripAdvisor rating, and the percentage of TripAdvisor ratings which were excellent.
Top 10 Cheltenham Pubs
| Rank | Pub | Distance from Cheltenham Spa (miles) | Distance from Racecourse (miles) | TripAdvisor Rating | Excellent Rating (%) | Google Rating | Instagram Followers | Overall Score | Guinness Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Kemble Brewery | 1.7 | 1.1 | 5 | 88.2% | 4.7 | 339 | 91.1 | ❌ |
| 2 | Sandford Park Alehouse | 1.6 | 1.5 | 4.5 | 64.6% | 4.7 | 3,243 | 87.9 | ❌ |
| 3 | The Brown Jug | 1.1 | 2.2 | 4.5 | 87.5% | 4.5 | 2,113 | 86.8 | ✅ |
| 4 | The Suffolk Arms | 1 | 2 | 4.5 | 82.7% | 4.4 | 3,263 | 86.3 | ✅ |
| 5 | The Five Alls | 1.1 | 2.2 | 4.5 | 69.1% | 4.5 | 3,548 | 85.8 | ✅ |
| 6 | The Vine | 1.6 | 1.4 | 4.5 | 63.6% | 4.6 | 2,517 | 85.6 | ❌ |
| 7 | Whittle Taps | 1.3 | 1.3 | 4 | 64.7% | 4.2 | 1,124 | 85.2 | ✅ |
| 8 | The Bottle of Sauce | 1 | 1.3 | 4 | 51.1% | 4.4 | 7,146 | 84.1 | ✅ |
| 9 | The Beaufort Arms | 1.9 | 2 | 4.5 | 65.5% | 4.6 | 1,546 | 84 | ✅ |
| 10 | The Tavern | 1 | 1.4 | 4 | 45.7% | 4 | 6,731 | 83.6 | ✅ |
1. The Kemble Brewery
Study Insights:
- TripAdvisor Rating: 5.0
- Percentage of Excellent Reviews: 88.2%
- Google Rating: 4.7
- Instagram Followers: 339
- Proximity: 1.7 miles from Cheltenham Spa Train Station; 1.1 miles from Cheltenham Racecourse
The Kemble Brewery excels with top-tier ratings on both TripAdvisor and Google, reflecting outstanding customer satisfaction. Its close proximity to the racecourse makes it a convenient choice for festival attendees.
General Overview: Nestled in the heart of Cheltenham, The Kemble Brewery is renowned for its warm atmosphere and diverse selection of ales. Patrons frequently commend the pub’s friendly service and the quality of its beverages.
2. Sandford Park Alehouse
Study Insights:
- TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5
- Percentage of Excellent Reviews: 64.6%
- Google Rating: 4.7
- Instagram Followers: 3,243
- Proximity: 1.6 miles from Cheltenham Spa Train Station; 1.5 miles from Cheltenham Racecourse
Sandford Park Alehouse boasts a high Google rating and a substantial Instagram following, indicating a strong online presence and customer approval. Its central location offers easy access for both locals and visitors.
General Overview: Established in 2013, Sandford Park Alehouse has become a beacon for quality beer in Cheltenham. The pub features a U-shaped main bar area and a spacious beer garden, providing a vibrant atmosphere for patrons. It has received accolades such as the National Pub of the Year in 2015 and Cheltenham CAMRA’s Pub of the Year in 2023. The Alehouse offers a diverse range of draught and bottled beers, complemented by seasonal menus crafted to pair perfectly with their beverage selection. Events like summer BBQs and the annual Cheese & Cider festival add to its appeal.
3. The Brown Jug
Study Insights:
- TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5
- Percentage of Excellent Reviews: 87.5%
- Google Rating: 4.5
- Instagram Followers: 2,113
- Proximity: 1.1 miles from Cheltenham Spa Train Station; 2.2 miles from Cheltenham Racecourse
The Brown Jug stands out with a high percentage of excellent reviews on TripAdvisor, reflecting a strong commitment to customer satisfaction. Its moderate distance from key locations makes it a pleasant walk for patrons.
General Overview: The Brown Jug is celebrated for its cozy ambiance and a wide array of craft beers. Visitors appreciate the pub’s welcoming environment and attentive staff, making it a favored spot for both locals and tourists.
4. The Suffolk Arms
Study Insights:
- TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5
- Percentage of Excellent Reviews: 82.7%
- Google Rating: 4.4
- Instagram Followers: 3,263
- Proximity: 1.0 mile from Cheltenham Spa Train Station; 2.0 miles from Cheltenham Racecourse
The Suffolk Arms combines strong online ratings with a significant social media following, indicating a well-established reputation. Its location offers convenient access for those traveling from the train station.
General Overview: Known for its historic charm, The Suffolk Arms offers a selection of traditional ales and hearty pub fare. The pub’s character and friendly service make it a staple in the Cheltenham community.
5. The Five Alls
Study Insights:
- TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5
- Percentage of Excellent Reviews: 69.1%
- Google Rating: 4.5
- Instagram Followers: 3,548
- Proximity: 1.1 miles from Cheltenham Spa Train Station; 2.2 miles from Cheltenham Racecourse
The Five Alls showcases commendable ratings across platforms and a robust Instagram presence, reflecting its popularity among patrons. Its accessible location adds to its appeal for festival-goers.General Overview: The Five Alls is praised for its inviting atmosphere and diverse menu options. Guests often highlight the quality of food and the selection of beverages, making it a go-to destination for those seeking a classic pub experience.
Closest Pubs to Cheltenham Racecourse
For those looking to stay as close to the racecourse as possible, these are the pubs within the shortest walking distance:
- The Airs & Graces (0.9 miles)
- The Royal Oak (1.0 miles)
- The Kemble Brewery (1.1 miles)
- The Cotswold Inn (1.1 miles)
- The Frog & Fiddle (1.3 miles)
Closest Pubs to Cheltenham Spa Train Station
For those arriving by train, these pubs are the most conveniently located:
- The Kings Arms (0.5 miles)
- The Lansdown (0.5 miles)
- The Railway (0.9 miles)
- The Suffolk Arms (1.0 miles)
- The Beehive (1.0 miles)
The Racing Post Recommends…
“As a Cheltenham resident there is no shortage of good pubs to choose from. For a good Guinness and lively atmosphere head to the new Eagle Social Tap or Whittle Taps.
“The Montpellier area is usually popular and has a lovely vibe. I like the Rotunda but if you are wanting to avoid the hustle I’d walk an extra ten minutes to the Bath Road area where the Exmouth, Norwood or Somerset might just be less hectic.
“Cheltenham is also the home to the best beer of 2024, the Steady Rolling Man, made by Deya. Their taproom is nestled in an industrial estate right next to the station and there’s a neat bar area open from Wednesday onwards.”
James Stevens, West Country Correspondent
Punters at Cheltenham could pay as much as £8 for a pint of Guinness at the festival amid keg price hikes
Published: 20th February 2025
With the Cheltenham Festival now less than a month away, local publicans are preparing for one of their busiest weeks of the year – while also managing concerns over a potential Guinness shortage.
With Guinness continuing to rank as the country’s favourite beer, demand is expected to rise further as sports fans gather to watch the Six Nations at this time of year – but publicans are concerned they’re losing out on high profits due to ‘unexplained’ price hikes.
Pauline Forster, who owns The George Tavern in London, told The Telegraph: “They put the prices up all the time with no explanation. There is nobody to ring up and you can’t even get a reply on the website.”
Mike Huysinga from The Exmouth Arms admits he is at the mercy of the brewery when it comes to pricing and would have to raise the price for punters if they deemed it acceptable. “Guinness, as with any popular type of drink, is susceptible to price rises year on year from the brewery and we have to prepare for that. We stocked up early for the Festival, but we are waiting to hear back from the brewery as to what we can sell it for. “Given the demand, I am sure there will be a price increase. However, we have also seen a rise in the demand for Guinness Zero, so I expect that to be a popular choice this year as well.”
Although the Jockey Club has committed to a ‘price freeze’, research by the Racing Post has revealed that, at £7.50, Cheltenham sells one of the most expensive pints of Guinness of any racecourse in Britain and Ireland.
Keira, General Manager at Whittle Taps, highlighted the logistical challenge of stocking up in advance. “Our cellar is too small to start prepping this early – we can only get around 40 barrels down there. We tend to get it the week of the races.”
Despite the potential for price changes – owing to the price increase for the price of kegs – she remains confident. “We see four or five times the normal amount of customers over race week, so we’re well used to it.”
Mark from The Suffolk Arms, however, admitted that the Guinness boom has put pressure on his ordering process. “We’ve had to hold back stock just to cope. The Six Nations and the races have really stretched us – there’s lots of demand, little supply.”
And it’s no surprise that Guinness demand is reaching unprecedented levels. In 2023, an estimated 300,000 pints of Guinness were consumed during the Cheltenham Festival, solidifying its status as the drink of choice among racegoers. With attendance figures expected to top 280,000 spectators across the four-day event, publicans are bracing for another record-breaking year.
The surge in Guinness popularity isn’t just limited to race week. The stout continues to dominate drinking habits in the UK, with consumption soaring in recent years. Sales figures show that Guinness was the best-selling pint in British pubs in 2023, overtaking lager for the first time. The rise has been attributed to a mix of social media hype, a younger audience embracing the drink, and strong branding through major sporting events like the Six Nations.
Chris, owner of The Beaufort Arms, said his business was well prepared but acknowledged the challenges of the festival period. “We didn’t have it before Christmas for about two weeks, but that’s the only time we’ve struggled. We’ve just had two deliveries, and we still get them once a week.”
With Guinness remaining one of the most sought-after drinks during race week, Cheltenham
pubs are doing everything they can to ensure punters won’t be left disappointed – or pint-less –
this March.
Guinness expected to cost £10 at Cheltenham Festival by 2035, experts warn, amid surge in keg prices and inflation
Published: 11th February 2025
Fears of a national Guinness shortage last year had drinkers rushing to their locals to get their hands on the black stuff – but now a fresh crisis is facing the popular Irish beer. Pub owners have complained of an ‘unfair’ hike in the price of Guinness handed down by its British-based owner Diageo, the multi-national beverage company also behind Smirnoff and Gordon’s gin.
With Guinness continuing to rank as the country’s favourite beer, demand is expected to rise further as sports fans gather to watch the Six Nations at this time of year – but publicans are concerned they’re losing out on high profits due to ‘unexplained’ price hikes.
Pauline Forster, who owns The George Tavern in London, told The Telegraph: “They put the prices up all the time with no explanation. There is nobody to ring up and you can’t even get a reply on the website.”
And it’s no surprise that Guinness demand is reaching unprecedented levels. In 2023, an estimated 300,000 pints of Guinness were consumed during the Cheltenham Festival, solidifying its status as the drink of choice among racegoers. With attendance figures expected to top 280,000 spectators across the four-day event, publicans are bracing for another record-breaking year.
But with costs associated with attending Cheltenham continuing to rise, could a pint of Guinness
soon be out of reach for the average racegoer?
In 2024, the price of a pint of Guinness at Cheltenham was frozen at £7.50, a rate which had been maintained since October 2022. However, assuming an annual inflation rate of 2.5%, there could be no other option but for a pint to cost approximately £10.00 by 2035.
The rising cost of attending Cheltenham isn’t limited to beer. Ticket prices for the 2024 festival started at £57, with the most expensive non-hospitality ticket reaching £207. While prices have been frozen for 2025, historical trends suggest a steady rise, meaning that by 2035, racegoers could be looking at entry prices of £70-£255 depending on the type of ticket.
Accommodation costs have also surged in recent years, with hotel rates in Cheltenham seeing a 255% increase during race week in 2024, pushing the cost of a four-night stay to an average of £3,030.
Travel expenses are also set to rise, with return train fares from London to Cheltenham Spa currently around £50, which, based on a 2% annual increase, could hit £61 by 2035. As the costs of attending the Cheltenham Festival continue to climb, Guinness lovers and racegoers alike may soon find themselves paying a premium for their annual pilgrimage to Prestbury Park.
Could The Cheltenham Festival Run Dry? Guinness Shortage and Price Hikes Loom Large
Published: 21st January 2025
Punters heading to the iconic Cheltenham Festival in March may face an unexpected booze hurdle – a potential Guinness shortage.
The famed Irish stout, a staple for racing enthusiasts especially at the festival that houses the famous Guinness Village, is at risk of running dry due to unprecedented demand, sparking fears of price hikes and an uncertain supply for the event where a pint of the black stuff is already a wallet-emptying £7.50.
Although the Jockey Club has committed to a “price freeze”, research by the Racing Post has revealed that, at £7.50, Cheltenham sells one of the most expensive pints of Guinness of any racecourse in Britain and Ireland.
There could be a sense of the scale of the issue this weekend when the Prestbury Park track hosts its Festival Trials Day, where superstar hurdler Constitution Hill will continue his Champion Hurdle build-up by running in the Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle.
The pints concern comes amidst Guinness’ growing popularity, particularly among Gen Z and younger drinkers. Once considered a drink for older generations, the brand has seen a remarkable resurgence driven by TikTok trends with a surge in the popularity of creamy pints, and the drink’s ability to seamlessly blend tradition with social media-worthy aesthetics.
According to recent data, sales of Guinness in the UK shot up by 18% year-on-year in 2024, with the 18-34 demographic accounting for nearly 60% of the growth.
Brits have voted in their droves and crowned Guinness as their favourite pint, ahead of Stella Artois and Budweiser. By working collaboratively with market research firm Censuswide, the Racing Post asked more than 1,000 UK residents, ‘What is your favourite alcoholic pint to drink?’
Excluding the more than 200 participants who opted out as they do not drink, exactly 800 participants took part in the survey and Guinness came out on top with 13.75% of the vote. Stella Artois came in second with 10.9% of the vote, with Budweiser at 7% and San Miguel swiftly behind on 6.9% – just ahead of Kopparberg on 6.8%.
The Cheltenham Festival, which attracts more than 250,000 punters annually, has long been synonymous with pints of the dark stout. However, fears are mounting that Trials Day this weekend – a key fixture in the jumps calendar – could cause significant depletion of local supplies.
Industry insiders warn that demand on the day could reach record levels, further tightening supply chains already stretched thin.
We asked followers of Racing Post on ‘X’ how important it is that Guinness be available during the Cheltenham Festival, with over 54% of respondents suggesting it was ‘Very important’ that they are able to get their hands on a pint of the black stuff.
A spokesperson for the Licensed Vintners Association said: “The surge in Guinness’ popularity has been phenomenal, but it’s placing immense pressure on breweries, distributors, and pubs. With the Cheltenham Festival just weeks after the January race meet, there’s genuine concern that availability could be severely impacted, especially if consumption trends continue.”
Adding fuel to the fire are whispers of a potential price hike for Guinness, as breweries face the dual challenge of meeting soaring demand while grappling with rising production costs. Industry experts suggest pint prices could jump by as much as 20p to 50p by March, further impacting the wallets of thirsty racegoers.
Racing Post’s Cheltenham correspondent, James Stevens said: “When you think of Cheltenham, you think Guinness. It cannot be underestimated how important a good Guinness is to a racing crowd. People may struggle to remember how much their car cost, what their mortgage is but the price of your favourite print seems ingrained into us. Bars and pubs are facing a tricky time as their customers are staying elsewhere due to sky-high accommodation, but I imagine they will not want to risk disappointing a thirsty crowd.”
“I have not heard any suggestion of Cheltenham concerned over a Guinness shortage or rationing customers, but it would undoubtedly be one of the biggest stories at one of sport’s signature events. After all, there would be a huge sense of irony if the Guinness Village had no Guinness.”
For context, in 2024 alone, Cheltenham Festival attendees consumed more than 265,000 pints of Guinness, enough to fill three Olympic swimming pools.
Be sure to check out Racing Post for all your Cheltenhem Festival needs. You’ll find detailed racecards, the latest odds and expert tips all in one place.
