Worcester Racecourse — Local services in Worcester

Went with family and my 86 year old Dad to the Balloon festival, it stated that parking was limited and all roads leading up to the event were gridlocked, due to this we parked at a friend's house to the north of the race course, from there it is a medium slow walk to the entrance, I don't normally criticise but, which bright spark on the organiser committee decided to close the footpaths leading up to the festival, by the time we found this out it was too late, this meant a very long detour back onto the road, then a mile walk south, and then half a mile north again to the gate which was a good furlong along the course (nearly to the place the footpath was closed), please find someone with a tad of logic and half a brain to work out the entrance logistics next time. When inside due to the extra 45 minutes walking we just missed the two shows we wanted to see, they just packed up at 18::00 and left, had to wait for ages for the next show, seemed like an eternity, why oh why didn't you spread them out so the breaks weren't so long? No matter, I'll get a pint and chill out, not quite, the queues to all bars were were at least 40 minutes wait, food was no better. To improve if anyone wants advice would be to have two entrances so the folk living north of course don't have to enter from the south, spread the shows so maximum wait could be less than 30 minutes, more bars or at least more staff, same with the food, a tenner for 1/4 bags worth of Greek meat (£2.50 whole bag at Home Bargains) and a slice of bread, all sauces had run out! Who runs these things, Norman Wisdom? Oh and a few local groups playing some music would be well placed, ditch the speakers you used around the arenas, I think they are broken as a lot of people were commenting how bad they sounded, the two plus notes were the toilets were spot on, and the balloons were impressive, everything else, well,...

Update to my experience 2 years ago: My opinion of this Racecourse has sadly not changed. I got persuaded to have a day out here as the weather was lovely.

Upon arrival I was faced with a car park steward who told us to P.... Off twice. We had done nothing wrong, I was having difficulty understanding what he wanted me to do to enable us to use the Blue Badge parking as me and my partner are disabled. He should be educated in the art of Customer Service, no matter how old you are.

Reported him to higher management on the day of the visit and sent an email a few days later, as no reply was received.

Still using the white cheap plastic chairs that are fine if you are average size. I'm not average and my experience with the tacky chairs mirrored that.

Facilities leave alot to be desired. Won't be returning here. We were a party of five having a much needed day out. We arrived in plenty of time for the first race. The only seating available for a 83 years old lady and four others, two being disabled were the concrete steps to the grandstand. It's not good enough when you have travelled here to not be able to sit down.

The group eventually found seats at 2.30pm. The cheap white seats you buy for your back garden in the summer.. If your a voluptuous lady don't even attempt to sit in them. They are a total embarrassment. Not strong at all. I had to give up and go sit in the car.

If you go corporate you have the luxury of suitable chairs, but if your 'Joe Public' you can have the cheap and tacky...

Sun 1st Sep - Family Fun Day. Centre course. I think the course had an issue with protesters around 1pm but, we arrived in plenty of time - about 40 mins before the first race.

Two elderly gents were very welcoming, apologised for the delay and when asked about the picnic area - pointed us towards some cars which we later found to be a jockey parking area. However, no stewards and no signage.

By then about 20-30 families had already parked up with their picnics including a really large group with a gazebo.

The walk through to the toilets and facilities was through a gate and under a barrier which did seem a bit odd.

After the first race a rather aggressive security guard told us not to walk through the gate to get to the toilets as we were not supposed to be parked where we were and that the wide open gate I had walked through was in fact closed (which I laugable had to show him wasn't). His attitude and aggression was a joke and he could not understand how or why there were so many people parked in the wrong area.

To top it all I watched two lads both with pints in their hands walk up to a steward and say they were jockeys and had just run in the first race - to then be let it. Top tip for local chancers...

No signage, no organisation, feisty security, a suited chap who I presume was in charge who appeared to have zero control.

Facilities are poor but, we knew that before we went but, never go back thanks even if it was profitable.

Point to points are...