Racecourse Prices Index: cheapest pint of Guinness can be found at Taunton

In the Racecourse Prices Index (RPI) we report from Britain and Ireland's racetracks on the cost of going racing.

Racecourse report: entry, food and pint prices from Taunton

Taunton

Date visited: Monday, January 9, 2023

Taunton: raced on MondayCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Was it a big day?

A standard midweek jumps fixture.

How much was entry on the gate?

£22. However it was £17 in advance, up until the day before racing, and there was a two-for-one offer which many racegoers took advantage of.

Other than restaurants/hospitality, what were the food and beverage options?

Quite a bit. There was a bar and cafe on the first floor of the Portman Stand offering pies, pasties and sausage rolls.

The Winning Post bar was another fairly large option for drinks, and nestled at the bottom of the grandstand was the Trackside bar offering hot drinks and a selection of bottled alcoholic drinks and food choices like soup and jacket potatoes.

Those wanting a burger had to cross over the track to a food van.

What's the damage?

Bottle of water: £2.20
Tea or coffee: £2.70
Cheapest pint: £4.90 (Carlsberg, Thatchers, San Miguel, Wainwright Amber)
Guinness: £5 (the cheapest of all racecourses that have been visited thus far)
Champagne: £50
Pasty/pie: £4

All drink prices taken from the main racecourse bar, or where there are multiple bars, one chosen at random.

What was the pasty like?

The culinary net was cast a bit further as I opted for a cheese and onion pasty. A good size, but in truth it was not particularly great. Nice enough pastry but let down by a bland filling. 2/5

And the queues?

A small crowd, but in fairness the bars were well staffed and everything moved easily.

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