Bath Racecourse has gained full planning approval for the next phase of its multi-million pound upgrade, including a new luxury grandstand overlooking the final furlong.
The improvements are aimed at ensuring that the course becomes a year-round, regionally important premier sporting, leisure and bus
iness venue.
It also wants to substantially increase income from corporate and other events on non-racedays while also boosting attendances at its 21 racing fixtures each year.
The new grandstand will include a ground-floor public bar, viewing steps for up to 400 people and a 200-seat premier trackside restaurant with a balcony on the middle floor.
The top floor will boast an exclusive covered roof terrace offering racegoers unrivalled premium viewing on racedays.
The new grandstand will also offer a large function space for non-raceday events such as conferences, banquets and weddings.
Planning approval was received last month for extensive work to the course’s existing hospitality suites, including new balconies, along with landscaping on the site. Work on these first-phase improvements will be completed before for the first race meeting on April 15 next year.
Work on the new grandstand will start immediately for opening later next summer. No fixtures will be cancelled or moved to other courses.
Racecourse executive director Jo Hall said: “This is a very exciting time for Bath Racecourse. We already enjoy an excellent reputation as a racing and hospitality venue and these new improvements will further cement this reputation, as well as ensuring we are firmly planted on the national map as a high-quality destination for non-raceday events.
“We are already receiving inquiries for events in the new facilities and we are expecting the new conference suite to be popular with organisers of corporate entertainment and events, especially since we are able to offer free parking for all guests.”
The project’s design team is led by Birmingham-based architects D5, with Solihull fit-out specialists the Design Works Group and Bath firm Nicholas Pearson Associates, which has consulted on landscaping design and advised throughout the design development process from an ecological and environmental perspective, which was important given the sensitive nature of the site in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
The planned improvements have met with approval from the local community and Charlcombe Parish Council.
Bath Racecourse, which is owned by the UK’s largest racecourse operator Arena Racing, has hosted racing since 1811.
