Cheltenham Festival: Shoppers take advantage of the quiet town centre
TRADERS are reminding shoppers in Cheltenham they are still open for business as the town gets ready for the start of race week today.
Retailers in the heart of the town said they often see fewer customers as many residents avoid the area.
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ON THE GALLOPS: Horses from Willie Mullins's stable at Cheltenham Racecourse
But town centre manager Martin Quantock insisted that, while the horses were running at Prestbury Park, the High Street is quiet enough for non-racing fans to enjoy.
He added: "There is still the perception that the town is a no-go area during race week because it becomes gridlocked. It does get busy prior to the races and afterwards.
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"But while 60,000 people are watching the horses, between around 1pm and 5.30pm, the town becomes absolutely deserted.
"If people want to do their shopping in peace, it is a great time.
"You will find the car parks are two-thirds empty, the sales assistants are queuing up to serve you and they would feel absolutely welcomed."
Despite the drop in footfall, Mr Quantock said the shops did not suffer as Cheltenham residents tended to pop into get their shopping before or after race week.
He added: "The amount coming into the system is absolutely the same throughout the month.
"It just dips when the races are on and peaks either side of it.
"All the business totally support race week and it has a good long-term impact for the shops.
"The racecourse takes in around 3,000 to 4,000 people and most are youngsters who come and spend their earnings afterwards.
"It also brings in so many visitors, which is great for the hospitality industry in Cheltenham.
"Some of the nightclubs say it is like having four New Year's Eves in a week for them."
The Fiery Angel, in Hewlett Road, had already been picking up trade yesterday before racing starts today.
Barmaid and chef Julie Champion said the four days of race week were busier than Christmas and New Year.
She said: "We are really looking forward to and it can be a great time of year for us.
"We tend to get some of the same people come year after year and so it is good to be seeing old friends.
"It is a great boost and tends to help us through the next few months."
5 Comments
by uberdodhead
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:38AM
“Every year we put up with 4 days of complete traffic standstill. We put up with tens of thousands of drunk people urinating and vomiting on the streets. The last time I went out on race week an Irishman tried to punch me for being English, fell over, then was sick over himself. Of course that it all just part of the 'craic'.
As for £50 million into the local Cheltenham economy. The nationally owned pubs/hotel chains might benefit but the people here never do. Except for the racecourse that gets bigger and bigger every year in a town whose transport system struggles to deal with 200,000 visitors.
I hope it bloody freezes.”
by BenefitsRUs1
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 9:58AM
“All you ``darlings`` of the racing fraternity make me sick. It is okay for a middle class executive to get drunk and cause mayhem in the town centre. But it is a total different story if it is a working class lad just out from the football.
All of a sudden the so called socialists become money grabbing capitalists.”
by TimMessanger
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 9:50AM
“Wonder why there are so many betting shops if there are no people in town?”
by zalapompadoo
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 9:12AM
“i work in the muni buildings quiet town centre i think not.”
by Matt1006
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 8:34AM
“Would be a different story if a day's racing is abandoned. Then there will be thousands of racer-goers looking for something else to do.
Inspection today @ 10.30..... Snowing as I write this, adjacent to the railway station.”