- The festival runs from Tuesday 11 to Friday 14 March
With large numbers of visitors to Cheltenham expected for the return of the Cheltenham Festival in 2025 (from 11 to 14 March), the council is working with key stakeholders and agencies to ensure everyone is safe.
Large numbers of spectators and visitors are expected, and additional measures have been brought in for the 2025 festival to combat antisocial behaviour. These include the council’s ‘Keep it clean’ and ‘War on Wee’ campaigns which aim to tackle antisocial behaviour; the racecourse’s ‘Love Our Turf’ campaign; extra toilets in and around the town and more police and council officers stationed on Evesham Road at key times during the morning and evening.
Cllr Victoria Atherstone, cabinet member for safety and communities, said: “
“The festival is a key event for Cheltenham, and we’re delighted to welcome the return of festival spectators and visitors once again this year.”
“Throughout race week, we’re continuing our campaigns to keep Cheltenham clean and tackle key concerns, including illegal taxi activity and antisocial behaviour in the evening and night-time economy (ENTE). Women’s safety remains a top priority, and our officers have completed bystander training from Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC). Licensed venues are also committed to training staff members on the ‘Ask for Angela’ scheme to support women if they are feeling unsafe or vulnerable.”
“I would also like to say a huge thank you to council staff and all our partners who work so hard in the lead up to and during race week to ensure residents and visitors to Cheltenham have a safe and enjoyable time.”
Max Wilkinson MP, said:
“Race week brings a lot of prosperity to our area and it’s an important part of our local heritage. But Cheltenham residents shouldn’t have to put up with antisocial behaviour during the four days of the festival. In past years I’ve seen grown men who know better urinating in broad daylight in the town centre, next to people’s homes and in public parks. That is not acceptable, and I’m pleased so many people are working locally on the war on wee to stamp this out. My message to anyone coming to the races is simple – have a good time, spend your money in local businesses, but please treat our town with respect, not like a toilet.”
Andre Klein, assistant general manager of Cheltenham Racecourse, said:
“The Festival is not only an iconic event which is loved by racing fans all over the globe, it is also hugely beneficial to Cheltenham as a town, delivering around £270million every March for the local economy.”
“The biggest stars of the sport will be competing next week, and we want the town to feel a sense of pride of the world class sporting event.”
“Our Love Our Turf campaign is back and bigger than ever before to ensure the experience for racegoers into town is enjoyable and there is as minimal disruption to our local residents.”
“Naturally an event of this scale sees a substantial influx of people to Cheltenham which presents logistical challenges to a town of this size and we work closely with the local council, Gloucestershire police and many stakeholders all year to ensure that the Cheltenham Festival is an enjoyable, memorable and safe experience for visitors to our town and all our local residents.”
Safety
Officers will be proactively visiting and engaging with licensed bars, clubs and other licensed premises to ensure they comply with their licence conditions, check on SIA accredited door staff, and deal with any issues which may arise with these venues during the week. We will continue to work with the police in monitoring the licensed sexual entertainment venues and any venues that provide such entertainment on an occasional basis.
In partnership with Gloucestershire Constabulary and Gloucestershire’s Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, the council is promoting ‘Ask for Angela’, the not for profit scheme that aims to ensure that anyone who is feeling vulnerable or unsafe is able to get the support they need. The scheme works by ensuring staff complete training so that they understand what to do when someone Asks for Angela.
Superintendent Emma MacDonald, from the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Local Policing Area, said:
“We are working alongside partner agencies and Cheltenham Racecourse in planning for the event.”
“Officers will be taking part in additional patrols, during both the day and night, as our main aim is to ensure that racegoers and those living in Cheltenham are able to enjoy themselves but are also responsible and stay safe and I’d like to ask those attending to please keep this in mind.”
“I’d like to encourage anyone with serious concerns to report these to an officer or call 101; any emergencies should be reported by calling 999, this includes incidents where there’s a threat to life, risk of harm, a crime is in progress, or offenders are nearby.”
Taxis
The council continues to take a zero-tolerance approach to unlawful taxi activity and will again seek to prosecute any unsafe or unlicensed taxis trying their luck during the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Racegoers are advised to only use pre-booked private hire vehicles or taxis licensed by the council waiting at our authorised taxi ranks; if they are hailing in the street, to only use taxis licenced by Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC).
Tewkesbury Borough and Stroud District Council’s licensing teams will be supporting CBC’s licensing team to conduct checks on hire vehicles to ensure that they are safe and are legally licensed. Anyone using a taxi from a taxi rank, or hailing one from the street, should ensure that it is displaying a roof sign and a Cheltenham licence plate. Any vehicle that is found to be operating illegally will face further action.
Other Measures in Place Include:
- Support from other voluntary sector partners in the evening and night-time economy
- Additional temporary toilets will be situated around the town and key routes to the racecourse
- The police community hub will be located on the High Street outside Marks and Spencer
- Additional taxi marshals will be on duty for the Montpellier and Promenade taxi ranks
- South Western Ambulance Service’s minor injuries mobile treatment unit will be in operation, and
- Gloucestershire Constabulary’s mounted police will be in town during all four evenings.
Visitors to Cheltenham are advised to plan their journey as traffic orders will be in place, visit Gloucestershire County Council highways webpages, see the PDF with road closures or follow @glosroads on social media.
This year, Arle Court Transport Hub will be running a park and ride bus service to the Cheltenham Festival and visitors arriving into Cheltenham Spa Train Station have the option of taking shuttles buses through to the racecourse or taking a leisurely walk with the help of a new walking guide.
Visitors to the Cheltenham Festival are encouraged to also check The Jockey Club and their social media channels.
