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Cheltenham Gold Cup Hospitality 2027: The Complete Guide | VIP Matchdays
May
Cheltenham Gold Cup Hospitality 2027: The Complete Guide
Gold Cup Day, on Friday 19th March 2027, is the final and biggest day of the Cheltenham Festival, headlined by the famous Cheltenham Gold Cup itself. It’s also usually the first day to sell out, with Gold Cup hospitality packages also selling faster than any other day at the Festival.
This guide walks you through every restaurant and box VIP Matchdays offers on Gold Cup Day, what’s included, and how to choose between them. Ready to book? See all of our Gold Cup packages on our Cheltenham Festival hospitality page.
Quick Summary: Gold Cup Friday 2027
Event Date: Friday 19th March 2027 | Gates Open: 10:30 AM
The Experience: The pinnacle of the Festival, Gold Cup Day, offers world-class jump racing, including the legendary Cheltenham Gold Cup at 4:00 PM.
Hospitality Highlights: Most packages include Club Enclosure access, a drinks reception on arrival, a multi-course gourmet lunch, a complimentary bar, and afternoon tea.
Expert Edge: Enjoy exclusive racing insights and tips from celebrity tipsters and professional pundits in the comfort of your private suite.
What is Included in Gold Cup Hospitality?
Every VIP Matchdays package on Gold Cup Day includes Club Enclosure admission, a reserved table or seat, a multi-course lunch and a complimentary bar running throughout the day. Most also include afternoon tea and a racing newspaper.
Beyond that, package inclusions depend on which experience you choose – from a shared suite with a vibrant atmosphere to a private course-facing box or fine dining with a private balcony. The right pick comes down to whether you value views of the track, privacy or the lounge atmosphere most on the day.
The Best Atmosphere: Platinum Suite Marquee & The Lollipop Club
These packages prioritise atmosphere, making them the best entry points if you want the full Festival experience without paying for a private view of the course.
Platinum Suite Marquee – from £645pp + VAT
The most accessible entry point into Festival hospitality, Platinum Suite is a marquee in the hospitality Courtyard, about 50 metres from the Guinness Grandstand and just a short walk from the parade ring and finishing straight.
While the marquee is non-course-facing, it makes up for that with its vibrant and social atmosphere. Your day will include a four-course lunch, afternoon tea, complimentary bar and Bucks Fizz reception with VIP hostess service, celebrity tipsters, and entertainment running throughout the day.
The Platinum Suite Marquee is a strong choice if you want an exceptional Festival experience without paying the premium for a trackside seat.
The Lollipop Club – price TBC
A shared suite within Cheltenham’s Main Grandstand, named for its proximity to the winning post. While the suite is non-course-facing, it puts you right in the middle of the famous Cheltenham Roar, with reserved Club Enclosure seats directly over the winning post just a short walk from the suite.
Your day in The Lollipop Club includes a four-course luncheon with a choice of starter/main, a full afternoon tea, a full complimentary bar including beer, wines and spirits, plus race insights from former jockey and ITV Racing presenter Mick Fitzgerald. The suite includes private tables of 10/12 with smaller numbers on shared tables.
The Lollipop Club is a great option if the raceday atmosphere and being close to the crowd are the most important part of your day.
Mid Tier Dining: Champions Club & Horse & Groom Restaurant
Champions Club Restaurant – from £889pp + VAT
Champions Club is a course-facing restaurant with an elevated vantage point over the track, putting you at the heart of the action in a relaxed, yet polished raceday setting.
This package includes a four-course meal, afternoon tea, a champagne reception and complimentary bar, and Club Enclosure access via your Cheltenham Club badge.
Standard and window tables are both available in the Champions Club Restaurant, allowing you to watch all of the action on the track from the comfort of the restaurant or the exclusive Club Enclosure. Window tables sell out first on Gold Cup Day, so make sure to book early to enjoy prime views of the track.
Horse & Groom Restaurant – from £1089pp + VAT
Bringing the warmth of a traditional British pub to the heart of the Festival, Horse & Groom sits on Level 1 of the triple-tiered course-facing structure. While on the lowest floor, it is still elevated above ground level, with direct access to an outdoor balcony overlooking the final two fences.
Your day includes a three-course à la carte pub lunch with coffee and breakfast bites, a full afternoon tea and a complimentary bar stocked with beers, wines and spirits.
Horse & Groom is the pick for guests who want a relaxed, informal setting with racing at its heart rather than a formal restaurant experience.
Premium Boxes: Long Run Balcony Boxes
Long Run Balcony Boxes – from £989pp + VAT
These Private Balcony Boxes, located on Level 3 of the Main Grandstand, directly overlook the final two fences of the course and down towards the finishing straight, making it arguably the best view of any of our VIP packages. Panoramic views of the Cotswold country also come as standard!
Your day will include a four-course lunch, afternoon tea, complimentary drinks and a Bucks Fizz reception, plus celebrity tipsters and tote betting facilities. Boxes are available on a shared basis, with smaller groups on shared tables and groups of 8-12 on private tables, while private boxes are available for 40+ guests.
Long Run Balcony Boxes are well suited to client entertaining, with the stunning views providing an astounding backdrop and doing some of the work for you.
Premium Fine Dining: Chez Roux & Level 2-3 Restaurants
Chez Roux Restaurant – from £1429pp + VAT
The flagship restaurant of the Festival, Chez Roux offers the very best in fine dining under the expert supervision of world-renowned chef Michel Roux Jr, with a four-course meal specially crafted by him. The Restaurant sits on Level 3, of the triple-tiered course racing structure, with a private viewing balcony overlooking the final two fences.
Your day includes a Moët Champagne reception, complimentary bar throughout the day with dedicated hostess service, canapés on arrival, morning biscuits & coffee, a full afternoon tea, and the previously mentioned four-course meal. The restaurant also boasts upgraded interiors, elegant floral arrangements, celebrity tipsters and car parking.
Chez Roux Restaurant is the pick for guests who want the very best food alongside one of the best views of the course, especially for entertaining and impressing clients.
Alongside Chez Roux, VIP Matchdays offers five more course-facing fine-dining restaurants across Levels 2 and 3.
All similar in tier and format (private balconies, course-facing views, a complimentary bar, multi-course dining), the real choice between them comes down to each specific vantage point and the style of dining which suits your group.
Four Eighty Restaurant – from £1089pp + VAT
The most food-led of the five, Four Eighty’s menu is built around locally-sourced, seasonal produce, served as a three-course à la carte gastronomic celebration rather than a set menu. Located on Level 2, the restaurant does still offer premium views from a private balcony overlooking the last fence.
Cleeve View Restaurant – from £1059pp + VAT
Positioned specifically over the final fence, Cleeve View provides a private outdoor balcony giving what is arguably the best sightline on Level 2 for watching a race being decided in the closing strides.
Final Fence Restaurant – from £1039pp + VAT
Final Fence, also located on Level 2, is similar in spirit to Cleeve View but with a slightly wider outlook that provides views of the final fence and the run to the finishing straight, great for if your group wants to follow the whole run-in, rather than just the last jump.
Chase View Restaurant – from £899pp + VAT
The only one of the five spanning two floors, Chase View offers glass-fronted dining across Levels 2 and 3 of the Long Run Terrace, with views framed by the Cleeve Hill backdrop behind the home straight. This gives the option of views from Level 2 with a different outlook than the options facing the final fence.
Stein’s Restaurant – from £1079pp + VAT
Stein’s is a brand-new restaurant, located on Level 3 alongside Chez Roux. The restaurant provides a coastal-inspired menu from Jack Stein (son of Rick Stein), built around Cornish seafood and produce. The light and contemporary restaurant offers a top-floor experience with a genuinely unique menu style.
Gold Cup Day Dress Code
While there is no strictly enforced dress code at Cheltenham, hospitality areas are smart-dress by convention. Most men wear a suit or tweed blazer with a collar and tie, and women typically opt for elegant daywear, often with a hat or fascinator.
Fancy dress is not permitted in hospitality, restaurant facilities or the Club Enclosure. Gold Cup Day falls in mid-March, so it’s worth dressing in layers for cold, changeable and inclement weather regardless of how formal you go.
How Much Does Gold Cup Hospitality Cost?
Gold Cup Day is the most in-demand day of the Festival, which also makes it the most expensive across each package.
As a guide, from most to least accessible:
- Platinum Suite Marquee – from £645pp + VAT
- Champions Club Restaurant – from £889pp + VAT
- Chase View Restaurant – from £899pp + VAT
- Long Run Balcony Boxes – from £989pp + VAT
- Final Fence Restaurant – from £1039pp + VAT
- Cleeve View Restaurant – from £1059pp + VAT
- Stein’s Restaurant – from £1079pp + VAT
- Horse & Groom Restaurant – from £1089pp + VAT
- Four Eighty Restaurant – from £1089pp + VAT
- Chez Roux Restaurant – from £1429pp + VAT
- The Lollipop Club – price TBC
All prices are per person, plus VAT.
Gold Cup Day typically sells out first, so we recommend booking early and locking in your place at the Festival to avoid disappointment!
How to Book Cheltenham Gold Cup Hospitality
Gold Cup Day hospitality sells out earlier than any other day of the Festival, so we recommend booking as early as possible, ideally at least 6 months before if you have a specific package in mind.
Explore our full range of Cheltenham Festival hospitality and let our team help you host a memorable day at the races!
Gold Cup Day FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What time do the races start on Gold Cup Day?
Racing on Gold Cup Day typically gets underway in the early afternoon, around 1:20 PM, with the Gold Cup itself run as the feature race later in the card, around 4 PM.
How much does Gold Cup Day hospitality cost?
Prices range from £645pp + VAT for our most accessible packages up to £1429pp + VAT for Chez Roux, our fine-dining flagship. See the full price guide above for how each package compares.
Is the dress code for Gold Cup Day different from the rest of Cheltenham Festival?
No, the same smart-dress convention applies across all four days. Gold Cup Day doesn’t carry the same organised Best Dressed competition as Ladies Day, but hospitality guests still typically dress smartly for the occasion.
Can I book hospitality for small groups or individuals?
Yes. While many of our Long Run Boxes are perfect for private groups of 40 guests, we also offer several restaurant and marquee options, which cater to smaller parties and individual bookings. This allows you to enjoy an elite experience regardless of your group size.
Is there a specific age limit for Gold Cup hospitality?
The Festival is a brilliant event for all, but hospitality areas are primarily designed for adults. If you are planning to bring younger family members, please contact our team so we can ensure your group has an enjoyable day.
What happens if the weather is poor on Gold Cup Friday?
One of the greatest benefits of booking Cheltenham Gold Cup hospitality packages is the guaranteed shelter. While general admission guests are exposed to the elements, you will have access to a hospitality suite throughout the day. This ensures the unpredictable Cotswolds weather never dampens your experience.
When is the best time to book for the 2027 Gold Cup?
Immediately. Gold Cup Friday is the most in-demand day of the entire racing calendar. To secure the best locations, we recommend booking your 2027 package at least 6 months in advance.
Gold Cup Day hospitality is the first to sell out each year. Book your 2027 package with VIP Matchdays.