The Racecourse Prices Index: how much for food and drink at Gowran Park?

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 Gowran Park

Gowran Park

Date visited: Sunday, June 12, 2022

Was it a big day?

It was not a big day in terms of the fare with a diet of maidens and low-grade handicaps, but it still rated as a better quality card than the one offered up the previous Monday. A bank holiday and Sunday fixtures within the space of six days should really have provided two good opportunities to showcase the sport at one of the country's finest tracks. Two opportunities wasted.

How much was entry on the gate?

€15, €10 for senior citizens and students

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

The food options are on two levels. The ground floor Thyestes bar offered a Hot Roast On A Roll, which is the closest offering to a burger you could get. It consisted of a slab of carved meat on a blaa with the usual trimmings for €8.50. If you fancied something smaller, you could get some chicken breast pieces or some potato wedges for €4, or a sandwich for €5.

For substantial meals, you could go to Blinkers restaurant on the first floor, which offered the usual carvery options. Roast of the day was priced at €13.50 with the fish of the day or the chicken curry going for €13. There is also the intrigue of the chef's special at €12.50. I went for the old racing staple of sausage, beans and chips with a diet coke for €11.50. Not a good choice. The beans were poured over the chips, making them soggy and horrible. The sausages looked overcooked, but they were actually quite tasty. In fairness, the other mains came with all the trimmings and were sizeable.

The sausage, beans and chips at Gowran. Yes, it was as bad as it looks.

The Thyestes bar on the ground level was well-stocked with plenty of draught options. Stout, ale, lager and cider were all represented. If you backed a few winners and fancied a bottle of champagne, though, you would have needed to blag your way into the members' bar upstairs.

What's the damage?

Bottle of water: €2.50
Cheapest pint: €5.50 (Smithwick's)
Guinness: €5.50
Champagne: Not available to non-members
Burger: None, the roast on a blaa for €8.50 was the nearest relation.

All drink prices taken from Thyestes bar.

And the queues?

Despite the carvery being quite busy, the queues were managed well.

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