Racecourse reveals multi-million pound grandstand plans
Beverley Racecourse has revealed plans for a new grandstand, the largest single investment in the history of the venue.
The racecourse has submitted an application to East Riding of Yorkshire Council for full planning permission for the £4.8m development which will provide additional hospitality opportunities for racegoers.
The new grandstand will provide improved viewing for spectators, both inside and outside the building; expanded catering and hospitality facilities and new kitchens, toilets and other amenities.
The grandstand would replace the existing 1960s main stand which has rudimentary facilities and no disabled access beyond the ground floor.
Sally Iggulden, chief executive at Beverley Racecourse, said: “These plans will provide the racecourse with the modern, fit-for-purpose facilities we need to meet the expectations of racegoers today and into the future, as well as having a competitive offer for other events.
“The new grandstand will be built on the same footprint as the existing stand and be the same height as the current structure, to ensure there is no additional impact on our beautiful setting.
“We’re very sensitive to our location. The existing stand is a bit of an eyesore – it’s a typically 1960s structure that doesn’t blend in particularly well with the surroundings. We’ve been very careful in the design of the new stand to ensure it will complement the Westwood.”
If planning permission is granted, demolition of the existing grandstand would begin in September 2019, following the end of next year’s racing season.
Foundations and the concrete base for the new grandstand would be put in place during the off season and a new temporary “village” with viewing areas, bars and toilets put in place for the 2020 season.
Construction of the new grandstand would then begin in September 2020, with completion scheduled for April 2021 in time for the start of the next racing season.
Iggulden added: “We’ve remodelled the existing grandstand over the years, but it simply can’t provide what we want and need.
“Instead of making the best of an old building that is no longer fit for purpose, we have decided to make this investment in a new stand which will see us into the future and enable us to retain Beverley’s position as a highly-respected racecourse and venue.
“We’re growing our attendances each year and we continue to be an industry innovator. To continue to do that, and compete in the leisure market, we need modern facilities that give customers what they expect from a day at the races.
“With interest rates at historically low levels there’s no better time to invest in a major capital project. It’s been on our wish list for a number of years and we feel now is the time to go ahead.”
The racecourse is run by the Beverley Race Company, a not-for-profit organisation managed by a board of directors.
Charles Maxsted, chairman of Beverley Race Company, said: “We have invested over many, many years in projects that ensure we provide a high-quality venue for racing, primarily, and for other events, and to ensure we have sustainable business.
“As directors we’re very conscious of our role as custodians of a racecourse that has a proud history going back well over 300 years. This development will play a key part in future-proofing the racecourse for generations to come.”
