Jess Glynne At Newmarket Racecourse Review

Reviewed by Michelle

We attended the Jess Glynne Newmarket Nights Event on 8th August 2021, what fabulous experience all round. The event involved a six horse race meet followed by a headliner concert. The horse racing or the concert would have been excellent experiences in their own right but combined ensured an awesome day and night out.

This was our first time attending such an event so we were reliant on the Course website for information which could have been better for novices. We found that the website was not the easiest to navigate but we got there in the end. That said once we arrived at the course it all fell into place as these things often do. Access to the course and the parking areas was very slick, plenty of marshals, plenty of space and good direction to park. I tried to book premium parking before the event but note you have to do this 7 days in advance. As it turned out because we arrived 2 hours before the first race was due to start so were able to park right next to the entrance for free. It was wonderful to see people enjoying picnics by their cars which we will definitely do next time to add to the experience. I was impressed to see a small area set aside for camper vans to stay overnight. Collection of tickets was seamless as was entry into the course, reassuring to see good level of security and bag checks by jovial staff.

We did wonder if we had got there too early but not at all, there were plenty of food and drink outlets, coffee and bar stands coupled with plentiful seating areas. These areas and the course in general were really well maintained and added to a fantastic vibe. Everything was well signposted and there were plenty of friendly, helpful staff to provide information. The time flew as we enjoyed a drink and picked our winners (well only two as it turned out)! The drinks and food prices within the course were on par with any other event venue, so no surprises there. We had tickets for the Premier Enclosure priced at £45 which gave access to things such as the Grandstand and parade ring, outstanding value we felt. I would recommend spending the extra if only for the fact you can get right at the front for the concert and also you can stand right next to the finish line for that added rush as the racers come over the line. It also allows you to get up close and personal with the horses and riders in the parade ring. It was also pleasing to see how well the course catered for less abled people and wheelchair users. The main entry into the main enclosures did not involve any steps and it was a nice touch to see the raised viewing areas near the finish line which afforded a good view.

Turning to the concert, at the end of the last race people from the standard enclosure were allowed entry to the Premier enclosure for the concert, this was well managed by the abundance of security staff and marshals. We loved how close you could get to the stage, even if you were stood at the back you had an excellent view. We choose to sit in the stands right next to the stage because it was forecast for rain, so had the most amazing view.

I’m still blown away at the value of the tickets and Jess Glynne was sublime live. She was so engaging and you could have been listening to a CD such was her unbelievable voice, supported by her fabulous musicians and backing singers. The timings of the last race and her appearing on stage was just brilliant. I had enough time to trot over to collect my winnings on the last race and Jess appearing on the stage, about 30 minutes! Although I was engrossed in the concert I did note a couple of very minor incidents involving drunks which the security jumped on immediately to ensure these idiots did not spoil others enjoyment. It all added to a feeling of safety and enjoyment.

Exiting many venues is always a challenge requiring patience and courtesy, at the end of the day hundreds of cars leaving at the same time is never going to be quick. When we saw the queue we decided to pop back into the course which wasn’t a problem to enjoy a coffee and soak up the wonderful atmosphere, 40 minutes later the queue had completely cleared and we were on our way home on a real high.

Rating: 5/5

Here is the link to the event page for more information and also about other artists that will be performing.