Major Revamp To Racecourse Will Be Unveiled At 2024 Sky Bet Ebor Festival
Spectators across the world will be watching the action at York Racecourse from tomorrow, as its flagship 2024 Sky Bet Ebor Festival gets underway.
The meet is widely acknowledged as one of the best in the world, brimming with top‑class racing action, fashion, hospitality and live sport.
And this year it will be set against a stunning new backdrop as the racecourse’s recently renovated Southern End is unveiled in full for the first time.
Elvington‑based Lindum York has spent nine months carrying out building work including:
- Construction of the new Roberto Bar, which provides a fast‑serve bar, a fish & chip shop and a cocktail/Pimms bar.
- Refurbishment of the historic 1913 Bustardthorpe Stand, including a new ground floor extension comprising toilets, catering outlets, William Hill shop, Tote outlet and extended and enhanced Theakston Bar.
- Construction of new 900 square metre Churchill Tyres Lawn and ETFE Canopy
The work also included installation of PV panels and a new drainage system, redesigned electric and gas installations and flowerbeds filled with RHS pollinators.
The canopy offers wet weather shelter while collecting the water down its supporting legs and into a 16,000‑litre holding tank. This ‘grey water’ is then used to flush the toilets.
In addition, high‑spec, bespoke features were added, including set of iron gates created by local blacksmith Andrew Brind, dedicated to the memory of Reg Bond, a successful Yorkshire businessman as well as a racehorse owner – and breeder.
Lindum commissioned York Handmade Bricks to produce 70,000 bricks, named the Ebor Range, for use in the construction.
Lindum York managing director James Nellist said: “We are really looking forward to seeing the Southern End fully in use for the first time. The Ebor festival is a highlight in York’s calendar, and I can’t think of a better event through which to showcase this major investment by the racecourse team.
“As a local contractor, being able to play a part in maintaining and improving York Racecourse is important to us. It contributes millions of pounds to the city’s economy every year, supporting thousands of jobs and helping to maintain the livelihoods of people in our community. During this latest project, 75 per cent of our contract spend was with subcontractors and suppliers within a few miles of site.
“Over the last eight years, we have developed a great working relationship with William Derby and his team and we’ve been able to support this project with practical advice and solutions from its inception, through to its design, specification and construction.
“We look forward to visiting the Ebor Festival and seeing our hard work on show.”
The Sky Bet Ebor Festival runs from Wednesday, August 21st, to Saturday August 24th.
William Derby, chief executive and clerk of the course, said: “I’m really looking forward to welcoming racegoers to the Sky Bet Ebor Festival to enjoy this improved space.
“The transformation of this area in just nine months has been phenomenal, it is a tribute to the vision of the York race committee, as well as to the hard work of our amazing design, build and internal teams.
“We hope it will be enjoyed by generations of racegoers to come.
“I am most proud that we have stayed true to our environmental principles, so I am confident in saying this is the most sustainable development on a racecourse to date, in keeping with our Green Knavesmire 300 commitment.
“Having battled a very wet winter to deliver the project, the long‑term sustainability of our planet was on our minds throughout.
“Racegoers can now look forward to a pint of our special Theakston IPA, while they watch the big screen to see whether they can collect any winnings from either the tote or William Hill, knowing that a fish supper is nearby, in celebration or consolation.”
The renovations to the Southern End are the latest project delivered by Lindum at the racecourse. Since the first scheme in 2014, the company has completed:
- Northern end redevelopment Phases 1, 1A & 2
- Course Enclosure
- Head on box
- Edwardian Weigh in Room
- Premier Racing Lounge
- Tractor Shed
- Southern End
“As a local contractor, being able to play a part in maintaining and improving York Racecourse is important to us. It contributes millions of pounds to the city’s economy every year, supporting thousands of jobs and helping to maintain the livelihoods of people in our community. During this latest project, 75 per cent of our contract spend was with subcontractors and suppliers within a few miles of site.”
James Nellist, Managing Director, Lindum York.
Images credit to: Lindum York.
