One of the oldest racecourses in the country has joined a growing band of tracks to pin its financial future on commercial development.
Doncaster Racecourse — which staged regular race meetings as far back as the 16th century — is reviving plans for a £15m hotel scheme, put on hold seven years ago because the financial crisis. It’s also hoped the 150-bedroom complex will enhance the racecourse’s growing reputation as one of the county’s leading conference venues.
Owned and operated by Arena Racing Company (ARC), Doncaster hosted Ukip’s autumn conference last year and the company believes the presence of a leading hotel will make it easier for the South Yorkshire track to attract similar events in the future.
Management at the Town Moor course have already held discussions with local planning officials about the updated hotel project, to be built on the former weighing room. “We did have planning permission back in 2008 when the track was redeveloped, and the new grandstand built, but the economic market was not right at the time,” explained the racecourse’s managing director, Mark Spincer.
“We now believe that the demand is there for a facility like this, and which will complement the ambitions of the track as a premier leisure and conference venue.” He said that if consent was granted later this year, construction would begin early in 2016, with an opening by the spring of 2017.
“We are already talking to a number of leading hotel operators who have expressed a desire in running the hotel and conference facility,” Spincer added.
ARC — which owns 15 tracks across the country — is also about to apply for permission to build a hotel at its Windsor racecourse. And a multi-million pound residential development is already underway at Newbury to secure the future of racing at the famous Berkshire track.
