The Roodee

The Roodee provides ticketholders with access to the Open Course and Dee Stand with access to view racing from both sides of the track.

This does not provide access the Paddock and Parade Ring.

Guests may bring food and soft drinks in sealed plastic containers onto the Open Course area of the Roodee Enclosure. However, food and soft drinks are not permitted in the Dee Stand area of the Roodee Enclosure.

Ticketholders may bring in their own food and soft drinks either on foot or by car to the Open Course as long as all items are sealed in plastic containers.

Racegoers with picnics which do not include alcohol are free to consume their picnic anywhere they choose on the Open Course area (per safety policies and stewards’ discretion).

Guests can bring a picnic, with a moderate amount of alcohol (two cans of beer or half a bottle of wine per person) to accompany it, into the designated Car Park Picnic Area. However, this area cannot be accessed on foot, or by taxi. Alcohol can not be brought into the Roodee Enclosure on foot via gate 9 or any other gate on Nuns Road.

All alcohol must be consumed or left in the Car Park Picnic Area before entering the Roodee Enclosure.

There are a variety of vendors in the Dee Stand and Open Course serving food and drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).

Chester Racecourse now operates on a ‘cashless’ basis at all food and drink outlets. Cash may still be used when placing bets with all on-course bookmakers.

We accept all major debit/credit cards and Apple/Android Pay at all our food and drink outlets. Contactless payment is also accepted up to the value of £100. There are no ATM machines on the racecourse, the nearest ATM machines are located on Watergate Street and Eastgate Street in Chester City Centre.

You can enjoy a great view of the racing from in the Dee Stand and stepping’s located on the County Stand side of the track. From here, you have a 360 view of the course and are the first to see the horses coming around Castle Bend, head for the home straight.

There is very limited seating in the Open Course in the form of picnic benches.

You are permitted to bring your own camping chairs to be used in the Open Course only.

Racegoers may also bring a gazebo (for the Open Course Car Park Picnic Area only) in line with our gazebo policy which can be found on the plan your visit page.

There is very limited cover in the Dee Stand and no cover in the Open Course. We advise planning for bad weather and umbrellas and permitted.

On race days, all guest car parking is on a designated area of the Open Course.

Car parking can be purchased in advance via our website when booking your tickets, or on the day by card only.

On arrival, stewards will direct you from the road outside the racecourse, right up until you park your car in its space.

Guests are politely asked not to leave their cars on-site overnight and are reminded that all property and valuables are left at the owner’s risk.

The Roodee can be entered on ground level via the car park.

The Dee Stand can be entered via the Roman Walls surrounding the racecourse. This gate requires racegoers to walk down a number of steps on historic staircases. If you have mobility issues, we can provide alternative routes on flat surfaces through the County Concourse and Tattersalls Enclosure.

If you need to use the alternative route, please visit the Accessibility Hub in the Holiday Inn Car Park on arrival where trained stewards will assist you. For more information on this, please click here.

Racecards can be bought in both the Dee Stand and Open Course. There will also be independent bookmakers in both areas.

Racegoers are welcome to play ball games on the Open Course but in a safe and considerate manner.

All ball games will be permitted at the stewards’ discretion and we encourage racegoers to check with a steward when arriving on the best place to play.

You may be asked to pause the game temporarily throughout the day during races so as to avoid any injuries to the horses or disruption to the race.

Please note – the Open Course on the inside of the race track may be closed on select race days due to operational reasons. For more information, please contact the Box Office team on enquiries@chester-races.com